System and method for infusion and desiccation of foodstuffs

ABSTRACT

A food recycler can include a case having a case volume between 8.79 liters and 35 liters, a control system, a user interface in electrical communication with the control system, and a bucket being configured with a bucket volume, wherein a ratio of the bucket volume to the case volume is between 0.0717 and 0.2857. The recycler can include a motor in communication with the control system, the motor being configured adjacent at least in part to the bucket, a gearbox configured below the bucket and in mechanical communication with the motor, a filter system and a drying component configured to remove water from waste food items.

PRIORITY CLAIM TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation application of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 16/868,482, filed May 6, 2020, now U.S. Pat. No.10,906,046, issued Feb. 2, 2021, which claims priority to U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 62/844,421, filed May 7, 2019, U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 62/844,454, filed May 7, 2019, andU.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/946,655, filed Dec. 11, 2019,the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in theirentirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to food recyclers and particularly to adesign or system that enables infusion of foodstuffs to a liquid foodsolution and/or desiccation of food waste into granular media in a foodrecycler having volumetric efficiency.

BACKGROUND

Organic whole foodstuffs can include edible components, ediblenon-palatable components, and inedible components. Edible components caninclude the palatable portion of the foodstuff that, in general, makesup the serving portion. Edible non-palatable components generallyconsists of the foodstuff portion that is not served, such as:trimmings, off-cuts, leaves, peels, skins, rinds, pulp, stems, seeds,oxidized foods (e.g., avocados, apples, etc.), limp or wiltedvegetation, bone components, connective tissues, fibrous components,poorly textured foods, malformed foods, discolored foods, previouslycooked foods, expired foods, or any other foodstuff that, while safe forconsumption, may not be palatable. Inedible components can includefoodstuff components that are not fit for consumption due to anunpleasant taste, poor nutritional value, or are a hazard to the healthof those that would consume these components (e.g., apple seeds,foodstuffs infested or infected by non-beneficial components, toxins, orpathogenic materials).

In traditional culinary arts, a high value is placed on preciousfoodstuffs. For instance, traditional techniques often call formaximizing consumable nutritional value and flavor while minimizingwaste. In classic French cooking, for example, the nutrients and flavorof unpalatable foods are transferred to a liquid to create stock or fondde cuisine, the treasured underpinning of broths, soups, and sauces.Stock making is a core culinary skill of the saucier or sauce chef, thehighest line cook position in the traditional French Brigade restaurantkitchen. In such a kitchen, a hierarchy of foodstuffs as described inthe previous paragraph supplies the core flavor and nutritional elementsto the saucier for infusion into a water solvent to form suspendedsolutions of stocks or broths. Flavor and nutrient rich stocks andbroths form the foundational input elements for sauces, soups, andstews. Further, these stocks and broths serve as poaching liquids toenhance the flavor of sauté cooking methods. The contributorynutritional and flavor elements of bones, trimmings and vegetablediscard can best be measured against the high regard French cuisineplaces on remouillage, a stock made by re-simmering bones a second time.However, over time, food entertainment has turned food ingredients intoaesthetic elements that are specifically selected for their pleasantappearance rather than for its nutritional value and flavor. This shiftin focus has led to an abundance of food waste.

Food waste accounts for one-third of garbage that is deposited inlandfills. This presents a growing environmental issue due to theanaerobic production of methane and other greenhouse gases via thedecomposition of such organic food waste. Thus, various entities haveopted to compost food waste in order to divert such food waste away fromlandfills and to reduce the production of methane and other greenhousegases.

Composting is most effective for low density waste management and inrural areas, where there is no scarcity of land for composting largeamounts of food waste. However, composting can be logistically complexand costly in urban environments, where the majority of organic foodwaste is created. While consumer behavioral change and voluntarycompliance can result in the reduction of food waste, this traditionallyhas not been sufficient. Additionally, composting solely focuses onwaste management and does not present an avenue for re-using ediblecomponents that would otherwise be discarded. In light of this, it wouldbe advantageous to provide a kitchen-based organic food conversionprocess and apparatus that would extract flavor and nutrients for reusein the kitchen and for conversion of organic food waste into nutrientpreserved grow media for reintroduction into the food cycle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order to describe the manner in which the above-recited and otheradvantages and features of the disclosure can be obtained, a moreparticular description of the principles briefly described above will berendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof which areillustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawingsdepict only exemplary embodiments of the disclosure and are not,therefore, to be considered to be limiting of its scope. The principlesherein are described and explained with additional specificity anddetail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates an example system configuration, according to anaspect of the present disclosure;

FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate a first example of a food recycler;

FIG. 2C illustrates an example method;

FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate a second example of a food recycler;

FIG. 3C illustrates an example method for operating a food recycler;

FIGS. 4A-4E illustrates an example grinding component;

FIGS. 5A-5C illustrate example alternate grinding componentconfigurations;

FIGS. 6A-6B illustrate alternate grinding component configurations;

FIG. 7 illustrates a stopper configuration;

FIG. 8 illustrates an example method related to using a grindingcomponent;

FIGS. 9A-9D illustrate an RF component example;

FIG. 10A illustrates an Internet of Things example configuration for thefood recycler appliance;

FIG. 10B illustrates an example method associated with an Internet ofThings example of the food recycler appliance;

FIGS. 11A-11F illustrate various aspects of using a replaceable filterin a food recycler appliance;

FIG. 12 illustrates a method example;

FIG. 13 illustrates an example of a food recycler comprising a set ofsensors to detect a type of vessel inserted into the food recycler foreither infusion of flavor and nutrients from surplus food to create afoodstuff or conversion of food waste into nutrient preserved stablegranular media;

FIG. 14 illustrates an example method associated with infusion of flavorand nutrients from surplus food to create a foodstuff;

FIG. 15 illustrates an example method associated with conversion of foodwaste into nutrient preserved stable granular media;

FIG. 16A illustrates a front view of an example food recycler;

FIG. 16B illustrates a side view of an example food recycler;

FIG. 16C illustrates some of the internal components of an example foodrecycler;

FIG. 16D illustrates some of the internal components of an example foodrecycler;

FIG. 16E illustrates some of the internal components of an example foodrecycler;

FIG. 16F illustrates a bottom view of an example food recycler;

FIG. 16G illustrates a top view of an example food recycler;

FIG. 16H illustrates a side and rear view of an example food recycler;

FIG. 17A illustrates various modular components of an example foodrecycler;

FIG. 17B illustrates in more detail the filter system;

FIG. 17C illustrates in more detail the filter itself;

FIG. 18A illustrates a top view of an example food recycler and across-sectional view of some of the components;

FIG. 18B illustrates a top view of an example food recycler and across-sectional view of some of the components;

FIG. 18C illustrates a side view of an example food recycler;

FIG. 19 illustrates an internal air flow pathway through an example foodrecycler;

FIG. 20A illustrates a side view of another example food recycler;

FIG. 20B illustrates a side and rear view of another example foodrecycler;

FIG. 20C illustrates a side view of another example food recycler;

FIG. 21A illustrates a side view of another example food recycler;

FIG. 21B illustrates a top view of an example food recycler and across-sectional view of some of the components;

FIG. 22A illustrates an example blade structure for a food recycler;

FIG. 22B illustrates example cutting components for a food recycler;

FIG. 22C illustrates example cutting components for a food recycler;

FIG. 22D illustrates an example blade structure in a cross sectionalview of a bucket structure for a food recycler;

FIG. 22E illustrates an example blade structure from a top view for afood recycler;

FIG. 22F illustrates an example blade structure from a side view for afood recycler;

FIG. 22G illustrates an example blade structure from a top view for afood recycler;

FIG. 22H illustrates an example blade structure from a top view for afood recycler;

FIG. 22I illustrates various views of an example blade structure for afood recycler;

FIG. 22J illustrates various views of an example blade structure for afood recycler;

FIG. 23 illustrates various views of an example blade structure for afood recycler;

FIG. 24 illustrates a view of another example blade structure for a foodrecycler; and

FIG. 25 illustrates a view of another example blade structure for a foodrecycler.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Various embodiments of the disclosure are discussed in detail below.While specific implementations are discussed, it should be understoodthat this is done for illustration purposes only. A person skilled inthe relevant art will recognize that other components and configurationsmay be used without parting from the spirit and scope of the disclosure.

Overview

Additional features and advantages of the disclosure will be set forthin the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from thedescription, or can be learned by practice of the herein disclosedprinciples. The features and advantages of the disclosure can berealized and obtained by means of the instruments and combinationsparticularly pointed out in the appended claims. These and otherfeatures of the disclosure will become more fully apparent from thefollowing description and appended claims, or can be learned by thepractice of the principles set forth herein.

The following description is organized around a number of differenttechnologies. It is noted that this is not meant to imply that thepresent application is focused on particular separate embodiments. Anyof the features described in any of the examples below can be combinedwith any other feature in order to arrive at an improved food recyclingappliance. The features are generally organized in terms of an examplethat focuses on volumetric efficiency, another example that focuses onenergy efficiency, yet another example that focuses on a grinding toolconfigured within a bucket of the food recycling appliance, anotherexample focusing on an Internet of Things (IoT) aspect of thisdisclosure which enables identification of contents within a bucket of afood recycling appliance, a communication of that identification to acentral server and for other control mechanisms, as well as an examplefocusing on an improvement with respect to odor control by introducing areplaceable filter and various configurations for utilizing replaceablefilters within the context of the food recycling appliance, and anotherexample focusing on a design which enables infusion of foodstuffs to aliquid food solution and desiccation of food waste into granular media.As noted above, various features could be combined to arrive atparticular examples. For example, a food recycling appliance couldinclude one of the described new grinding components in connection witha replaceable filter contained within the lid of the food recyclingappliance. Another example improvement could include an improved size ofthe bucket with the components configured internally to enable for alarger bucket in the horizontal XY direction, with the addition of an RFheating component configured within the lid of the food recyclingappliance.

This disclosure now turns to an introductory description of the variousnew features associated with an improved food recycling appliance. Onefeature needed in the art is a food recycler that has a certainvolumetric efficiency. A food recycler in this regard can include ahousing having a housing volume, a motor in electrical communicationwith a controller, a grinding mechanism in mechanical communication withthe motor and a bucket having a bucket volume, the bucket beingconfigured with the grinding mechanism contained therein. A ratio of thebucket volume to the housing volume can be between 0.0717 and 0.2857,inclusive. The motor can be configured within the housing adjacent, atleast in part, to the bucket. The food recycler can include a dryingcomponent configured to remove water from waste food items placed withinthe bucket.

The food recycler can further include a controller comprising a set ofindicators and at least one user interface component usable to at leastinitiate food recycling and a gearbox configured below the bucket and inmechanical communication with the motor and the grinding mechanism. Inone aspect, the bucket volume can include between 2.51 and 10 liters,inclusive. The food recycler may consume 0.1 kilowatt hours of energyper 100 grams of the waste food items. The housing volume can includebetween 8.79 liters and 35 liters.

In another aspect, a food recycler can include a case having a casevolume between 8.79 liters and 35 liters, a control system, a userinterface in electrical communication with the control system, a bucketbeing configured with a bucket volume, a motor in communication with thecontrol system, the motor being configured adjacent at least in part tothe bucket, a gearbox configured below the bucket and in mechanicalcommunication with the motor, a filter system and a drying componentconfigured to remove water from waste food items. The user interface isusable to cause the control system to initiate a food recycling cycle.In one aspect, a ratio of the bucket volume to the case volume can bebetween 0.0717 and 0.2857.

Another feature that is needed in the art is an improved system that isreconfigured and reengineered to enable infusion of foodstuffs to aliquid food solution and desiccation of food waste into granular media.In one aspect, different buckets can have a particular structuralcomponent that indicates whether the food items contained within therespective bucket are to be prepared as a liquid food solution orprocessed to be compost. The unit can be capable of identifying thestructure and purpose of each of the buckets that can be inserted intothe unit in order to determine whether a user desired to infusefoodstuffs to a liquid food solution or desiccate food waste intogranular media, such as compost. Thus, the unit is to perform theprimary functions of infusing nutrients and flavors from waste food intoa liquid food solution and of desiccating food waste into granularmedia, as requested by a user of the unit. Accordingly, the followingdescription provides an improved configuration for a food recyclerdesigned for home use and which performs these functions. In anotheraspect, the bucket can be the same and the user interface can confirmfrom the user which mode to operate in. A graphical interface canpresent options or buttons or other interactive features can enable theuser to choose the mode.

To enable improved desiccation of waste food items, the unit isreconfigured to include vacuum accelerated dryers. Vacuum accelerateddryers have a long industrial history of accelerated desiccationcovering a wide spectrum of material drying processes. For instance,such vacuum accelerated dryers have been used for low temperature vacuumfreeze drying of food stuffs, ambient temperature desiccation ofpharmaceutical compounds, medium temperature desiccation of feed andfoodstuffs (e.g., fruits, vegetables, meats, etc.), and high-temperatureindustrial desiccation for the creation of polymer and ceramicmaterials. The unit uses a combination of heat and vacuum to acceleratedesiccation of organic materials, thus reducing the amount of timerequired to desiccate food waste and improving the overall energyefficiency of the unit.

The improved food recycling unit further includes two classes of vesselsthat may be inserted into the unit: a pot vessel for the collection offoodstuffs appropriate for processing into a food solution (e.g.,stocks, broths, etc.) and a bucket vessel for the collection of organicwaste that is to be processed into dry, granular media. Both vessels aredistinct in appearance and purpose, but share a dual function asreceptacle and processing environment. For instance, the pot vessel andthe bucket vessel can both serve as receptacles for organic food andorganic food waste at the point of creation. Once filled, the bucketvessel or the pot vessel is placed in the unit for processing using theappropriate function for the contents and for the desired outcome. Insome examples, placement of a vessel into the unit causes the unit tomechanically identify the structure and purpose of the vessel. Thiscauses the unit to determine which function to perform for the contentsand for the desired outcome.

If a user introduces a pot vessel into the unit, the user can select,via a user interface on the unit, a program that when executed by theunit identifies the contents and desired outcome. The program caninclude a formula and/or recipe that the unit can use to produce aspecific stock or broth by grinding, heating, holding at a specifiedtemperature, stirring and holding at safe temperatures the organic fooditems introduced into the vessel. During this process, the unit canprovide, to the user, feedback and alerts.

If a user introduces a bucket vessel into the unit, the user can select,via the user interface, from a variety of different processing profiles,which can be based on the desired time to complete the desiccation ofthe contents, desired energy usage, or other factors external to theunit (e.g., temperature, odor, etc.). The unit, during the desiccationcycle can perform various operations such as grinding, stirring, mixing,heating, using vacuum, using air movement, condensing, using airfiltration, and humidity and temperature sensing to create a specifiedgranular media output.

In addition to the vessels, the unit can include a bucket vessel lidwith odor control features, a pot vessel lid with fluid containmentfeatures, a pot vessel dual concentric strainer to create a clear liquidcolumn void of solids and non-aqueous fats and containment of solids andfats for separation and diversion to appropriate waste streams, filters,additional pot vessels and bucket vessels, external thermostatinterface, food ingredients supporting the infusion process, drybacterial culture to recolonize beneficial bacteria in dry granularmedia when used as soil or as a soil supplement.

In an example, the food recycler includes a housing, a pot vessel thatincludes a first feature that serves to indicate a request to execute aninfusion cycle using the contents within the pot vessel, a bucket vesselthat includes a second feature that serves to indicate a request toexecute a desiccation cycle using the contents within the bucket vessel,and an interior wall that forms a cavity within the housing and that isconfigured to receive the pot vessel and the bucket vessel. The foodrecycler further includes a controller within the housing that includesa set of indicators and one or more user interface (UI) components thatcan be used to configure the cycles. The food recycler also includes aset of sensors positioned within the interior wall to detect when thepot vessel or the bucket vessel are inserted into the cavity, a motor inelectrical communication with the controller, and a set of componentswithin the housing that can perform the infusion cycle and thedesiccation cycle as needed.

In an example, the pot vessel is constructed from a ferromagneticmaterial to allow for generation of heat within the pot vessel while inan electromagnetic field.

In an example, the set of components of the food recycler include avacuum and purge air pump that produces a negative pressure within thebucket vessel during the desiccation cycle and removes moisture ladenair resulting from the desiccation cycle.

In another example, the food recycler further includes a hall effectsensor that is configured to detect a jam within the food recyclerresulting from either the desiccation cycle or the infusion cycle.

In an example, the food recycler further includes an RF component thatis used to control the temperature within the pot vessel during aninfusion cycle and within the bucket vessel during a desiccation cycle.

In an example, the food recycler further includes a humidity sensor thatis used by the controller to obtain humidity readings within the bucketvessel during a desiccation cycle to determine whether the desiccationcycle has been completed.

In another example, the interior wall that forms the cavity within thefood recycle is constructed to include a thermal layer and an acousticinsulation layer to reduce heat transfer from the pot vessel and thebucket vessel and to reduce acoustic transmission resulting from theinfusion cycle and the desiccation cycle, respectively.

In yet another example, the bucket vessel includes a rotor that is usedto pulverize the contents within the bucket vessel and generates a mixflow of these contents in the bucket vessel during the desiccationcycle.

In an example, the set of sensors within the food recycler include afirst sensor positioned to a first side of the interior wall andconfigured to detect the unique feature of the pot vessel and a secondsensor positioned to a second side of the interior wall and configuredto detect the unique feature of the bucket vessel.

In an example, a method is implemented that includes the steps ofdetecting insertion of a vessel into a food recycler, determining acycle to be performed to convert the contents within the vessel into aproduct based on one or more features of the vessel, identifying thecontents within the vessel, initiating one or more components of thefood recycler to perform the cycle based on the contents within thevessel, detecting completion of the cycle, and indicating the completionof the cycle and providing the product resulting from the cycle. Thecycle is one of a desiccation cycle to generate granular material and aninfusion cycle to generate an edible food solution.

In an example, the one or more features of the vessel correspond to thedesiccation cycle. As such, the method further includes identifying,based on these features, that the desiccation cycle is to be performed.In an alternative example, the one or more features of the vesselcorrespond to the infusion cycle. Thus, for the purpose of thisalternative example, the method further includes identifying, based onthese features, that the infusion cycle is to be performed.

In an example, the method further includes determining the volume andwater content of the contents within the vessel. Based on the contents,the volume of these contents, and the water content, the duration of thecycle is determined and set.

In an example, once the final product has been produced at the end ofeither the infusion or desiccation cycle, the temperature within thevessel is maintained at a specific temperature to ensure stable storageof the product.

In another example, the method further includes detecting a jam withinthe vessel, stopping the one or more components of the food recycler,initiating a rotor within the vessel in a particular direction toeliminate the jam, detecting that the jam has been cleared from thevessel, and re-initiating the one or more components of the foodrecycler to resume performance of the cycle.

In yet another example, the method includes obtaining, via a UI of thefood recycler, one or more parameters for converting the contents in thevessel into the product, and identifying, based on these parameters, theone or more components of the food recycler that are to be used in orderto perform the cycle in accordance with the obtained parameters.

In an example, the method further includes monitoring agitation of thecontents, heat application within vessel, and the temperature within thevessel to generate a temperature hysteresis range, and maintaining,based on this temperature hysteresis range, a cycle temperature withinthe vessel to produce the product.

In an example, the method includes monitoring the humidity within thevessel during the cycle to determine whether the cycle has beencompleted. If the humidity within the vessel falls below a minimumthreshold value, the cycle is complete.

Another example structure for an updated food cycler can include a basecomponent including and a base rim, at least one air intake opening, agearbox, and a motor component having a motor and a top surface, themotor being in mechanical communication with the gearbox, an airflowcomponent configured to be positioned on the top surface of the motorcomponent, a fan component including a fan and positioned on an intakeport of the airflow component and a filter component having an airfilter configured therein. The filter component can be configured on anoutput port of the airflow component.

The food cycler can further include a bucket receptacle configured onthe gearbox of the base component and configured to receive a bucket,wherein the fan component and the filter component are configuredadjacent to an upper portion of the bucket receptacle, a casing having alower rim complimentary to the base rim and configured such that thecasing sits on the base rim, the casing having a first interior volumecomplimentary to the bucket receptacle, a second interior volumecomplimentary to the fan component, and a third interior volumecomplimentary to the filter component, a control switch configured inthe casing, a lid configured with a hinge to the casing such that accessto the bucket receptacle is provided by opening the lid and a controllerconfigured to be in electrical communication with the motor, the fan andthe control switch for operating the food recycler.

The motor can be configured in the base component to be at least in partto a side of a lower portion of the bucket receptacle. The lid canfurther be configured to enable air to flow from a top portion of thebucket receptacle through the lid and down to the fan component. Acontrol switch and a lid latch can be configured in a front surface ofthe casing and further can be configured adjacent to each other with thelatch on top and the control button within 2 mm of and below the latch.A benefit to the control button and latch configuration is that the userinteraction with the system is focused on a single area of the systemand is simplified for the user.

Upon an operation of the fan, air can be drawn into the casing via theat least one air intake opening in the base component, up an interiorwall of the bucket receptacle, into the lid, down through the fancomponent, through the airflow component, and up through the filtercomponent.

The air can flow from the filter component into the lid and the lidfurther can include an exhaust opening in a top of the lid andoptionally at a rear portion of the lid. The exhaust opening can beconfigured on the top of the lid and within 2 cm of a hinge. The systemcan also be configured such that air can flow from the filter componentto an exhaust opening on a rear surface of the food recycler, theexhaust opening being either in the lid or below the lid.

A ratio of a first volume of the bucket relative to a second volumeincluding an overall volume of the food recycler can be between 0.0717and 0.2857.

In one aspect, the control switch can be tilted and configured on afront surface of the casing. The food recycler further can include alatching mechanism configured to open the lid upon a user interactingwith the latching mechanism, wherein the latching mechanism isconfigured above and adjacent to the control switch. The control switchcan have a front surface configured in a first plane that is at a 5-30degree angle relative to a second plane defined by the front surface ofthe casing. The casing can include a rear surface that is configured atan angle and the rear surface of the casing can include an exhaustopening. The angle can be defined between a vertical plane and a rearsurface plane associated with the rear surface of the food recycler. Inone aspect, the exhaust opening in the rear surface of the casing isconfigured at a top portion of the rear surface.

The bucket can include a cutting blade system having a central column,at least one cutting member each extending at a different level from thecentral column and at least one cross blade attached to opposite sidesof the bucket, the at least one cross blade configured between two ofthe at least one cutting member. Where there is only one cutting member,it can pass above or below the cross-blade. The blade system can includea first cross blade and a second cross blade, and even a third crossblade. These blades can be configured in an arc shape, partiallycircular or can be configured as shown in the figures. Otherconfigurations are contemplated as well.

The first cross blade can be configured between a first cutting memberand a second cutting member, and the second cross blade is configuredbetween the second cutting member and a third cutting member.

In one aspect, the air filter can be a compostable filter and have aside wall configured not to allow air to travel therethrough, a bottomopening, a top opening, and a handle for removing the air filter fromthe filter component.

A food recycler in another aspect can include a casing having a casingfront surface and a lid, a motor configured in mechanical communicationwith a gearbox, the motor configured within the casing, and a tiltedswitch in communication with a control system for turning the foodrecycler on and off. The tilted switch can be configured in the casingfront surface of the food recycler and has a switch front surfaceconfigured in a first plane that is 5-30 degrees relative to a secondplane defined by the casing front surface and a latch positionedadjacent to and above the tilted switch. The latch can be configured toopen the lid upon a user operating the latch.

An example method of recycling food in a food recycler includes drawingair, via a fan, through an air intake opening at a base of the foodrecycler according to a first air path, drawing the air, via the fan,from the first air path across a motor compartment according to a secondair path, drawing the air, via the fan, from the second air path acrossa gearbox and up through a channel between a bucket and a bucketreceptacle of the food recycler according to a third air path, drawingthe air, via the fan, from the third air path and into the bucketaccording to a fourth air path, drawing the air, via the fan, from thefourth air path out of the bucket and into a lid of the food recycleraccording to a fifth air path, drawing the air, via the fan, from thefifth air path to a filter component according to a sixth air path anddrawing the air, via the fan, from the sixth air path to away from thefood recycler according to a seventh air path. The bucket receptacle canhave a heater or heating component built in to provide heat to thebucket.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure addresses the issues raised above. In thisdisclosure, a food recycler will be presented that covers differenttypes of re-configurations of internal components such that the foodrecycler can process organic food waste to generate either nutrientpreserved stable granular media via desiccation of the food waste or anutrient and flavor infused foodstuff (e.g., stocks, broths, etc.). Asnoted above, an important feature of the new food recycler disclosedherein is that it is able to detect and identify which process, eitherfor desiccation of food waste or for infusion of the nutrients andflavors of the food waste into a foodstuff, that is to be performedbased on the placement of an appropriate bucket into the food recycler.Accordingly, the new configurations present innovative solutions toenable either process through a single device that is sized to permituse in the home, particularly on a kitchen counter top, for example.

One aspect of this disclosure will relate to the control system that isused to manage and control the recycling process. Part of thisdisclosure can include changes or improvements to the control systemsuch that the food recycling process takes less time or is performed ina more energy efficient manner. The disclosure provides a system, methodand computer-readable storage device related to the control system. Aswill be described in more detail herein, the control system will managethe various components such as the motor, a heater, a dehumidificationsystem, a fan, and the user interface.

First, a general example computer system shall be disclosed in FIG. 1,which can provide some basic hardware components making up a server, anode, a controller, or other computer system or system for controllingcycles and processing of waste food according to the concepts disclosedherein. FIG. 1 illustrates computing system architecture 100, accordingto an aspect of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 1, thecomponents of the system architecture 100 (or simply system 100) are inelectrical communication with each other using a connector 105.Exemplary system 100 includes a processing unit (CPU or processor) 110and a system connector 105 that couples various system componentsincluding the system memory 115, such as read only memory (ROM) 120 andrandom access memory (RAM) 125, to the processor 110. The system 100 caninclude a cache of high-speed memory connected directly with, in closeproximity to, or integrated as part of the processor 110. The system 100can copy data from the memory 115 and/or the storage device 130 to thecache 112 for quick access by the processor 110. In this way, the cachecan provide a performance boost that avoids processor 110 delays whilewaiting for data. These and other modules/services can control or beconfigured to control the processor 110 to perform various actions.Other system memory 115 may be available for use as well. The memory 115can include multiple different types of memory with different Theprocessor 110 can include any general purpose processor and a hardwaremodule or software module/service, such as service 1 132, service 2 134,and service 3 136 stored in storage device 130, configured to controlthe processor 110 as well as a special-purpose processor where softwareinstructions are incorporated into the actual processor design. Theprocessor 110 may be a self-contained computing system, for example,containing multiple cores or processors, a bus (connector), memorycontroller, cache, etc. A multi-core processor may be symmetric orasymmetric.

To enable user interaction with the computing device 100, an inputdevice 145 can represent a variety of input mechanisms, such as amicrophone for speech, a touch-sensitive screen for gesture or graphicalinput, a keyboard and/or mouse, e.g., for motion input and so forth. Anoutput device 135 can also be one or more of a number of outputmechanisms known to those of skill in the art. In some instances,multimodal systems can enable a user to provide multiple types of inputto communicate with the computing device 100. The communicationsinterface 140 can generally govern and manage the user input and systemoutput. There is no restriction on operating on any particular hardwarearrangement and therefore the basic features here may easily besubstituted for improved hardware or firmware arrangements as they aredeveloped.

Storage device 130 is a non-volatile memory and can be a hard disk orother types of computer readable media which can store data that areaccessible by a computer, such as magnetic cassettes, flash memorycards, solid state memory devices, digital versatile disks, cartridges,random access memories (RAMs) 125, read only memory (ROM) 120, and/orhybrids thereof.

The storage device 130 can include software services 132, 134, 136 forcontrolling the processor 110. Other hardware or softwaremodules/services are contemplated. The storage device 130 can beconnected to the system connector 105. In one aspect, a hardware modulethat performs a particular function can include the software componentstored in a computer-readable medium in connection with the necessaryhardware components, such as the processor 110, connector 105, display135, and so forth, to carry out the function.

FIG. 2A illustrates one example configurations for food recycler. It isnoted that in the various examples shown, that any particular featureshown in any example can be combined with any other example and that thediscussion around the respective figures is not intended to describeseparate embodiments that are not interchangeable with respect toindividual features.

FIG. 2A shows one optional example in which the internal configurationof the food recycler 200 is shown such that the motor and gearbox layoutpositions are changed as well as the configuration of the air filters inthe same overall volume size. A goal of this example is to provide morespace in the horizontal or Z direction that can enable an increase ofthe debt of the bucket to be larger than existing configurations. Thefood recycler 200 includes a lid 204 that can be twisted into an openand unlocked position from a closed and locked position. A handle isshown on the lid with a concave surface to enable user to be able tograb the handle.

A top supporting structure 202 is shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B. FIGS. 2A and2B do not show the exterior surface of a cover to the food recycler 200,only the supporting structure. Indicators can be provided to the user onthe cover of the food recycler 200. The user interface for the foodrecycler 200 can include a number of different types of user interface.Typically, a button is pressed by the user to start the cycle. Lightscan be presented to the user to identify the status of a cycle. The userinterface could also be graphical in nature or through a touch sensitivescreen that can present data about the status of the cycle and enablethe user to initiate or stop the cycle.

The configuration of components within FIGS. 2A and 2B are as follows.The motor 218 is positioned low in the food recycler and to the side ofthe expanded bucket 206. The bucket 206 is within a bucket container208. A fan 214 and an air duct 216 connect through another air duct 212with one or more air filters 210. The air filters contain a materialthrough which the air flows for deodorizing. An exhaust port can beconfigured at one end of the air filters 210 for releasing the odorlessair into the room.

A transfer case 220 is positioned also next to the motor 218 and to theside of the bucket container 208. The transfer case enables mechanicalenergy to be transferred from the motor 218 to the gearbox 222. Thegearbox is connected to a grinding mechanism that is configured withinthe bucket. The grinding component can be of any configuration.

A controller 224 is electrically connected to the various components soas to control the cycle of operation for drying waste food, grindingwaste food, heating waste food, infusing nutrients and other elements ofwaste food into a liquid food solution, and the like.

The volumetric size of the food recycler 200 is preferably a width ofapproximately 270 mm 328, a length of approximately 310 mm 326, and aheight of approximately 360 mm 330. The height is an important componentas the food recycler 300 is designed to be a countertop in a kitchen orsome other home environment. Typically, if there are cupboards above thecountertop in a kitchen, there is approximately 18 inches of spacebetween the countertop and the covered. Accordingly, providing acountertop appliance of approximately 14 inches is preferable forenabling the user to access the bucket 206 through removing the lid 204.

In one aspect, this disclosure may refer to an approximate measurementor an approximate length. In this scenario, the measurement can be+/−10% of the given height. Thus, providing a height of a food recycler200 of approximately 360 mm and can include a range of 324 mm-396 mm. Asdescribed above, the components within the food recycler 200 areredesigned and reconfigured such that a ratio of a first volume of abucket 206 that receives waste food relative to the overall volume ofthe food recycler case is between 0.0717 and 0.2857. Further, as notedabove, as a result of this redesign and reconfiguration of thecomponents of the food recycler 200, the bucket 206 can have a capacityto receive waste food of between 2.51 liters to 10 liters, resulting ina possible volumetric capacity of the food recycler 300 being between8.79 liters and 35 liters.

While the height of the food recycler 200 can be of approximately 360 mmand can include a range of 324 mm-396 mm, the approximate length andwidth of the food recycler 200 can vary in accordance with thevolumetric capacity of the bucket 306 (e.g., 2.51 liters to 10 liters)and of the food recycler 200 (e.g., 8.79 liters to 35 liters), subjectto the ratio between the volumetric capacity of the bucket 306 and thevolumetric capacity of the food recycler 200. This can result in each ofthe length and width of the food recycler 200 being within a range of165 mm-329 mm.

Accordingly, the food recycler 200 includes a housing that is configuredwith: a height between 324 mm and 396 mm, a length between 165 mm and329 mm, and a width between 165 mm and 329 mm. Further, the foodrecycler 200 includes a controller 224 that includes a set of indicatorsand at least one user interface (UI) component that can be used toinitiate a food recycling cycle. The controller 224 can be locatedwithin a first interior side of the housing and the UI component isconfigured to be accessible from the exterior of the housing. The UIcomponent can include one or more of tactile buttons, touchscreens,dials, knobs, and the like. The food recycler 200 further includes amotor 218 that is in electrical communication with the controller 224and is also located within the first interior side of the housing. Alongwith the motor 218, the food recycler 200 includes a grinding mechanismin mechanical communication with the motor 218. As noted above, the foodrecycler 200 includes a bucket 206 that has a volumetric capacitybetween 2.51 liters and 10 liters. This bucket 306 is positioned to asecond interior side of the housing and opposite the first interior sidewhere the motor 218, controller 224, and UI component are located.

As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the air filters 210 are configured in theupper portion of the internal volume of the food recycler 200. The motor218 is positioned in the lower portion of the food recycler 200 with atleast a portion of the motor overlapping the bucket container 208.

In one aspect, the user could download an app on a mobile device 250 ora desktop device that can be used to control the food recycler 200. Thecontroller 224 can include an antenna or a controlled connection with anantenna configured within the food recycler 200 such that the userdevice 250 can communicate with the device 200 wirelessly. Any wirelessprotocol such as Wi-Fi, cellular, Bluetooth, near Field communication,and so forth, are contemplated as being potential to medicationprotocols between a device 250 and the food recycler 200. In thisregard, the user could remotely, either within the same building or fromany location outside the building, either initiate a cycle, receivestatus reports on the progress of the cycle, receive error reports, andso forth through communication with the food recycler 200.

For example, in one aspect, the food recycler 200 could include in thelid 204 or some other location within the food recycler 200, a light anda camera (not shown) which can enable the user to view the contents ofthe bucket 206. Images or video to be received by the camera andtransmitted as instructed by the controller 224 to a network node suchthat the user could retrieve those images through an app or through awebsite to visually see the progress of the cycle and the state of thewaste food in the recycle process.

FIG. 2C illustrates a method example of processing waste food. Themethod includes receiving waste food within a bucket contained within afood recycling appliance (250), heating the waste food within the bucket(252), drying the waste food within the bucket (254), and grinding thewaste food with a grinding component contained within the food recyclingappliance, wherein the food recycling appliance includes a controller, amotor in communication with the controller, a grinding mechanism inmechanical communication with the motor, a bucket contained within thefood recycler appliance that is configured to contain the grindingmechanism and configured to receive waste food and a drying componentconfigured to remove water from the waste food, and wherein the foodrecycler is configured to have an overall appliance volume of 35 litersor less and wherein the controller, the motor, and the drying componentare configured within the food recycler to enable the bucket to have acapacity to receive waste food of between 2.51 liters to 10 liters,inclusive (256). The volume of the bucket can be between 2.51 liters or10 liters, in size.

FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate other example configurations for a foodrecycler 300. FIG. 3A shows a food recycler 300 having a lid 304 and asupporting structure 302 for a cover (not shown) of the food recycler300. This configuration seeks to improve the volumetric efficiency inthe XY direction for the bucket contained within the bucket container306. In this example, the fan 314 and air filters 316, air duct 318 andsecond air duct 320 are positioned near the top of the unit. The motor312 is positioned below the bucket and along a side, and evenapproaching a corner of the unit. The transfer case 322 is alsopositioned below the bucket and adjacent to the motor 418. Thecontroller 310 is also configured below the bucket as well as thegearbox 308. Using this configuration, the bucket diameter can beincreased.

Another aspect of this disclosure relates to an improvement in thechopping component or the grinding component. There are a variety ofdifferent improved configurations that will be discussed. One of theproblems with other chopping or grinding components is that these maynot adequately chop or grind all of the different types of waste foodthat are possible. For example, bones from animal waste can be difficultto chop or grind and other configurations currently used may not besufficient to handled bones.

FIG. 3C illustrates an example method of operating a food recyclingappliance. A food recycling method includes receiving waste food withina bucket contained within a food recycling appliance (350), heating thewaste food within the bucket using an RF heating component (352), dryingthe waste food within the bucket (354) and grinding the waste food witha grinding component contained within the food recycling appliance(356).

FIGS. 4A-4E illustrate the improved configuration. With reference toFIG. 4A, a chopping component or grinding component 400 is disclosed.The component includes a primary column 401 that is mechanicallyattached to the motor system 424 of the food recycler. The controllerdescribed herein provides instructions to the motor for rotating theprimary column 401 and a first direction as part of a cycle and then ina second direction as part of the food recycling cycle. A first arm 418extends from the primary column 401. A first end of the first arm can becharacterized as the end that attaches to the primary column 401. Afirst vertical surface 403 is shown as being part of or near the firstand of the first arm 418. A second vertical surface 402 is shown at adistal end of the first arm 418. The overall curved vertical surface 410extends along the entire length of the first arm 418. A top surface 417can be flat such that the first arm 418 travels below a fixed choppingprojection 414 which is connected to a supporting structure 408 that isattached 407 to a wall of a bucket 430 (See FIG. 4B). The first arm 418extends at a certain elevation such that it travels below the fixedchopping projection 414.

The first arm 418 includes a blade 416 that is configured to extend fromthe top surface 517 of the first arm and in a direction opposite thecurve surface 410. The blade 416 can be straight or curved and isconfigured to be complementary to a portion of the chopping projection414 such that food can be chopped by the action of the first arm 418rotating in a counterclockwise direction and moving beneath the choppingprojection 414.

A second arm 404 extends at a higher elevation, relative to the certainelevation associated with the first arm 418 from the primary column 401.The second arm 404 has a flattop surface 412 and a curved verticalsurface 411 and a flat vertical surface 421. The second arm 404 includesa first curved vertical surface configured near the primary column 401where the second arm 404 attaches to the primary column 401. At a distalend, there is a second curved vertical surface that, in one aspect, caninclude teeth 422 or another configured surface that can be used to gripor grind waste food. The second arm 404 can have a first component 420and a second component 423 that are configured such that the firstcomponent 420 travels over the chopping projection 414 as the component400 rotates as part of a food recycling cycle. The second component 423can be configured to travel adjacent to the chopping projection 414 asthe component rotates.

FIG. 4B shows a top view of the grinding component 400. The first armhas a first distance 432 configured between a first end of the first arm418 and a wall of the bucket 430. The curved nature of the first arm 418results in the distance 432 being greater than a second distance 434which is identified as the distance between a second end or a secondportion of the first arm 418 that is distal to the first end. In thisregard, as the grinding component 400 rotates in the clockwisedirection, waste food can be compressed inasmuch as the relativedistance between a vertical edge 410 (shown in FIG. 4A) of the first arm418 and the wall of the bucket become shorter as the first arm 418rotates. Thus, food can be compressed against the wall of the bucket inan improved manner over the prior grinding component.

Similarly, the second arm 404 includes a curved vertical surface 411such that a first distance 436 between the wall of the bucket and afirst end of the second curved arm 404 is greater than a second distance438 between a distal vertical surface of the second curved arm 404 andthe wall of the bucket. Again, food can be compressed between the curvesurface 411 and the wall of the bucket as the grinding component 400rotates in a clockwise direction.

A top surface 406 of the primary column can have a sloped surface asshown in the figures such that waste food does not remain or settle ontop of the primary column 401 or can have other configurations.

A shape of the chopping projection 414 can include a flat upper surfaceand a flat lower surface and a first curved vertical edge with a secondcurved vertical edge each meeting at a distal end with a flat verticaledge as shown in the figures. Other configurations are contemplated aswell. Generally speaking, the configuration of the chopping projection414 is complementary to the first arm 418 and the second arm 404.

FIG. 4C illustrates a view from below the grinding component 400. Thefirst component 420 and the second from component 423 of the second arm404 are shown in more detail. The teeth 422 are shown as part of thedistal end of the second arm 404. The exterior vertical surface 450 ofthe second arm is also shown. Feature 456 shows the vertical surface ofthe distal end of the first arm 418. In this figure, a slight variationon the configuration of the curved surfaces 450 and 456 are shown. Inone aspect, the surfaces may be flat or may have a portion of thevertical surface extending further than another portion of the verticalsurface as shown in FIG. 4C. These services may also include additionalgrinding teeth similar to the teeth 422 shown distributed in variouspositions along the surface. For example, teeth 422 may be configuredalong the entire vertical surface or in portions of the vertical surfacefor strategic grinding capabilities.

FIG. 4C also shows the blade 416 which can be beneficial for cuttinghigh fiber food waste. The blade 416 is generally configured as anextension of the top surface of the first arm 418. A vertical surface453 is also shown as part of the curved first arm 418. The blade 416 canbe an extension of this surface and could be considered also as afurther extension of the top surface 417 (Shown in FIG. 4A) of the firstarm 418.

FIG. 4D illustrates another view of the grinding component 400. Shownare some example structures for mechanically attaching 424 the grindingcomponent 400 to a motor system. The chopping projection 414 is shownwith its supporting mechanism 408. Some example distances between armcomponents and the interior wall 431 of the bucket 430 are shown. Forexample, a distance 460 between the vertical surface of the distal andof the first arm 418 can be approximately 1 mm. A distance 462 betweenthe distal end of the second arm 404 and the wall 430 can beapproximately 15 mm. These are example distances and a range ofdistances may be employed.

FIG. 4E illustrates yet another view of the grinding component 400 withthe various features shown including an end vertical surface 454 of thefirst arm 418. The distance 462 between the distal end of the second arm404 and the wall of the bucket is shown as well. This figure also showsthe relative positions of the second arm 404 with its first component420 positioned above the chopping projection 414 upon rotation. Thesecond component 423 is shown as being adjacent to the distal end of thechopping projection 414.

The particular configurations of the arms extending from the primarycolumn can also vary in several respects. For example, FIG. 5Aillustrates a different configuration 500 in which the upper arm 502extends further towards the wall of the bucket than the lower arm 504.The chopping projection 508 in this configuration is shown as beingbeneath the upper arm 502. Note the partial overlap between the upperarm 502 and the lower arm 504. A supporting structure 506 for thechopping projection 508 is shown as well. A primary column 510 is usedto attach the arms.

FIG. 5B illustrates another alternate example 520 in which an upper arm524 is configured to have a substantial amount of overlap with a lowerarm 526. The chopping projection 528 is configured such that uponrotation a portion of the upper arm 524 passes above a portion of thechopping projection 528 while simultaneously a portion of the lower arm526 passes below the chopping projection 528. A supporting structure 530enables the chopping projection 528 to be configured in the wall of thebucket. A primary column 522 is used to attach the arms.

FIG. 5C illustrates yet another example 540 which shows a first upperarm 544 partially overlapping a lower extending arm 548. A choppingprojection 550 is shown with a horizontal portion that first extendsfrom the supporting structure 552, a second portion that is vertical andthe last distal portion that again is horizontal. The lower arm 548 isconfigured to rotate below the entire chopping projection 550 and theupper arm 544 is configured to rotate adjacent to an above the distalhorizontal portion of the chopping projection 550.

FIG. 6A illustrates yet another example configuration 600 which includesa chopping projection supporting structure 604 from which a firsthorizontal segment projects 606 which connects to a vertical portion 608and a final horizontal distal projection 610. A primary column 602includes an extension arm 612 which includes a vertical cutting wheel614. The configuration of the arm 612 is such that a first portion ofthe arm is configured to be complementary to and rotate below the distalhorizontal projection 610 of the chopping projection. A distal end ofthe arm 612 is configured to hold the vertical cutting wheel 614 andalso to travel under the first portion of the chopping projection 606upon rotation of the grinding component 600. While the arm 612 is showngenerally to be straight in FIG. 6A, the configuration could also becurved as well in a similar nature to the other structures disclosedherein.

FIG. 6B illustrates another example structure 620 in which a choppingcomponent supporting structure 622 provide support for an examplechopping projection 624. A primary column 630 supports a first leg 628which is a straight projection from the column 630. A second leg 632projects from the column 630 and includes a distal end 634 which has avertical projection which is complementary to a lower surface of thechopping projection 624. A third leg 636 extends from the lower portionof the column 630 and includes a horizontal cutting wheel 638. In thisexample, the horizontal cutting wheel 638 is configured to travel belowthe chopping projection 624 upon rotation of the grinding component 620.A bucket 626 is shown as supporting the chopping projection 624 andsupporting structure 622. The arm 628 is configured to pass above thechopping projection 624 in this example.

FIG. 7 illustrates another variation in which the traditional arms 706,708 and 710 can be used as projecting from a primary column 704 but thata modified stopper 702 is provided. In this scenario, the distal end ofthe arm 710 travels above the stopper 702 while the distal end of leg706 and the distal end of leg 708 each travel underneath the stopper702. The modified stopper has a first curve surface 714 on a first sideof the stopper 702 as well as a second corresponding and similar curvesurface (not numbered) on an opposite side of the stopper 702. A distalend of the stopper 712 can have a curved or straight surface. Theservices described herein can, in one example, be sharpened such that aswaste food is brought into contact with the stopper 702 it can be cutvia the movement of one or more of the arms 706, 708, 710 against thestopper 702. It is also noted that while the traditional arms areincluded in FIG. 7, any of the arm structures disclosed herein could beapplied to this example. This is a general principle as well that any ofthe stopper or chopper projection structures could be combined with anyof the leg configurations disclosed herein.

FIG. 8 illustrates an example method of using a chopping or grindingcomponent for processing waste food. The method includes receiving thewaste food in a bucket of a food recycling unit (802) and chopping thewaste food in the bucket using a chopping component as part of a foodrecycling process, wherein the chopping includes rotating the choppingcomponent in a first direction as part of the food recycling process andin a second direction as part of the food recycling process (804).

The chopping component, by way of example, includes one or more of: (1)a primary column, (2) a first curved arm extending from the primarycolumn at a first elevation and having a first vertical surface and asecond vertical surface, the first curved arm having a first endconnected to the primary column and having a first arm distance betweena first end vertical surface at the first end and a wall of the bucketcontaining the grinding component, the first curved arm having a secondend that is distal from the primary column and having a second armdistance between a second end vertical surface at the second end and awall of the bucket, the first curved arm having a flat top surface thatis configured to travel beneath a fixed chopping projection from thewall of the bucket when the primary column rotates as controlled by themotor system, and the first curved arm having a sharp edge projectingfrom the flat top surface on a side of the first curved arm that isopposite the first vertical surface and (3) a second curved armextending from the primary column at a second elevation and having afirst curved vertical surface and a second flat vertical surface, thesecond curved arm configured to travel above the fixed choppingprojection from the wall of the bucket when the primary column rotatesas controlled by the motor system (806).

Energy Savings

Another aspect of this disclosure relates to providing an alternate formof heat which differs from current configurations. The existing foodrecyclers utilize a heat plate which causes heat to be transferred tothe bucket and which heats the food as part of the food recyclingprocess. This disclosure now introduces a new approach to heating wastefood as part of the recycling process. This disclosure first introducesmicrowaves and microwave ovens and then applies some of these principlesto a new context and a new structure with respect to utilizing an RFcomponent to at least, in part, heat waste food as part of the foodrecycling process.

FIGS. 9A-9D illustrate examples of introduction of an RF component intoa food recycling appliance. Microwaves have a frequency that canpenetrate water, fat and sugar molecules and excite them. For moleculesto be excited, the electrons orbiting the nucleus have to jump up into ahigher energy level. When this occurs, the atom starts to vibrate fasterthan normal. When this happens in a glass of water, for example, all theatoms that make up the water start to move and run into each other andcreate friction. When friction is created, energy is given off in theform of heat. The generation of heat using microwave technology is partof the dehydration process in connection with food recycling. The foodrecycling process preferably heats the waste food as part of theprocess. Previously, a heat plate was deployed within the food recyclingappliance that was physically connected to the bucket and, when heated,would transfer heat from the heat plate to the bucket and thereby heatthe waste food. The introduction of an RF component, in whole or inpart, to heat the food results in a more efficient food recyclingprocess in comparison to just heating the food via of heat plate.

FIG. 9A illustrates a food recycler 900 that includes an air circulationcomponents 902, a waveguide 904, and RF component 906, a fan 908connected to the air circulation component 902, a control system 918, anair guide 912, an airflow path 916 and the filtering system 914. FIG. 9Bfurther shows the food recycler system 900 with the bucket 910, the fan908, and a heated plate 920. A grinding system 922 is also shown whichincludes a motor, transfer case, and gearbox for controlling the motionof a grinding component within the bucket 910.

FIG. 9C further shows details of the waveguide 904 within the foodrecycling system 900. Air ducts 902 are shown for retrieving air fromthe interior portion of the bucket 910. The heated plate 930 is inelectrical communication with the control system 918 such that heatingof the bucket 910 can occur at the appropriate time within the foodrecycling process. The RF component can be a magnetron 906 which canprovide microwaves to the waveguide 904 for introduction 932 into theinterior of the bucket 910. Heat can be generated from the heat plateand introduced 934 also into the interior of the bucket 910 to heatfood.

FIG. 9D illustrates another example of a food recycling appliance 900which includes an RF component 944 configured within a lid 942 of theappliance. The food recycling case 940 is shown containing the bucket946 and other various components.

Shielding can also be provided such that the lid 942 includes a seal inconnection with the food recycler case 940 such that as microwaves areintroduced into the interior of the bucket 946, the microwaves do notleak out of the contain space. Given the shape of the bucket 910, 946and given the use of the grinding component or stirrer configured withinthe bucket for grinding and stirring the waste food, the waveguide 904is configured so as to evenly heat the waste food and to avoid hotspots.

In one aspect, the present system can include a camera system or othersensor system in connection with the use of the RF component such that aconfiguration of the waste food can be determined in preparation formicrowave heating of the waste food. For example, a sensor system, incommunication with the control system, can determine sensor data whichcan include one or more of a shape of the waste food, an amount of thewaste food, a weight of the waste food, a type of the waste food, adensity of the waste food, and so forth and make adjustments withrespect to any aspect of the system which participates in the foodrecycling process. For example, the waveguide 904 might be dynamic oradjustable such that depending on the sensor data, a particularwaveguide configuration may be selected or configured in order to evenlyheat the waste food and avoid hot spots. In another aspect, the systemmay utilize the sensor data to determine how to run the various stagesof the food recycling process. For example, sensor data may be utilizedto determine whether to start a grinding component in a clockwisedirection or counterclockwise direction. The sensor data may be utilizedto determine, as indicated by the control system, what type of microwaveheating to perform, how much, how long, and under what configuration ofthe waveguide, to implement heating the waste food as part of the foodrecycling process. The sensor data can further be utilized to manage anair circulation system, the use of filters for filtering the air, theuse of the heat plate, the combination of the use of the heat plate andthe RF component for heating the waste food, a speed of the grindingcomponent, a period of time in which any of these features are appliedas part of a food recycling process, and so forth.

In one aspect, the RF component is an RF emitter element that isdirectionally oriented to induce RF energy into the food waste massduring a desiccation cycle so as to create heat within the food waste.The RF emitter element includes, either separate or in combination, anRF transmitter, an RF transmission line, and an RF radiating antennapossessing a high front-to-back radiation pattern oriented toward thefood waste mass so as to create heat within the food waste mass whenenergized. In one aspect, a flat or parabolic reflective element islocated behind the radiating element so as to reflect the back energytoward the food waste mass, so as to increase the front-to-backtransmission ratio of the energy radiating element.

In one aspect, the RF transmitter emits at a frequency of 2.45 GHzcoupled to an antenna tuned to radiate at a 12.2 cm wave length. In analternate aspect, the RF transmitter emits at a frequency of 915 MHzcoupled to an antenna tuned to radiate at a 32.7 cm wave length. The RFtransmitter is configured within the lid and integrated into the antennaarray on a planar circuit assembly. In one aspect, the RF transmitterand radiating antenna are separate elements connected via an RFinterconnection cable with the RF transmitter located in the lidassembly or within the food recycler case 940. In another aspect, the RFemitter element is replaced by an electrically-heated infrared heaterelement includes a carbon material or other suitable material optimizedto emit a wavelength of 3000 nm for targeted absorption of the foodwaste water component and untargeted reflection by the bucket materialcomponents.

It should be noted that the disclosed frequencies and wavelengths areoffered for reference to allow the food recycling appliance to operatewithin Institution of Electrical Engineers (IEE) and Institute ofElectrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) standards. However, theapplication of RF energy to a food waste mass as part of the describedconversion process should not be restricted by frequency or wavelength.

In one aspect, within the cavity of the food recycling appliance 900that is configured to receive the vessels, the food recycling appliance900 includes a set of wires configured to induce electro-magnetic energyinto the vessel within the cavity once the wires are energized.

The cost of input energy can be managed through user program selectionof an external contact switch dry contact closure to an externalthermostat to draw heat from an external source or mechanical connectionto a contact relay for time of use energy management. Costs can also bereduced through operator-selected time of day cycle selection via theoperating application which can be programmed to time of day energycosts and offer user selectable batch energy costing and alternativesbased on batch prioritization and time of use energy input costs.

FIG. 10A illustrates another example configuration of the system 1000and includes an “Internet of Things” concept with respect to a foodrecycling appliance. This configuration includes a food recyclingappliance 1002 that is configured with some of the components discussedabove. In general, the following improvements to the traditional foodrecycling appliance enables the appliance to identify types of wastefood and amounts of waste food and communicate such data to a networkserver for analysis and processing. By adding technical elements to thefood recycling appliance that enables this type of analysis, andconnecting one or more food recycling appliances to a network-basedserver, an overall ecosystem can be developed in which businessintelligence data can be gleaned and evaluated for the purpose ofproviding opportunities for gamification, social media interactions,promotions, advertising, sales opportunities, regional orgeographic-based communications, and so forth.

For example, the food recycling appliance 1002 includes a bucket 1004contained within a food recycling appliance case. A gearbox 1006communicates with a transfer case 1008 and the motor 1010. A controlsystem 1014 communicates with the motor 1010 and other components aswell, such as a wireless communication module 1016 and a sensor 1017.Feature 1006 can also represent a scale which can be used to weigh ordetermine the weight of the waste food 1015 placed within the bucket. Auser interface 1011 is included which enables the user to provide inputto the system in connection with performing a cycle of processing wastefood. The filter system 1012 is also shown in connection with an aircirculation system.

Waste food 1015 is placed within the bucket 1004 by a user of thesystem. This advanced version of the food recycling appliance 1002 hassome additional features which provide increased usability andefficiency of the system. Generally speaking, including a sensorcomponent 1017 and an enhanced user interface 1011 into the foodrecycling appliance 1002 can enable the system to determine thecharacteristics of the waste food 1015 placed within the bucket 1004.The sensor component 1017 can also sense a temperature of the waste food1015 and determine whether it is hot or cold, whether it is frozen, andso forth. Either manually or automatically, by determining thecharacteristics of the waste food, sensor data can be communicated via awireless communication module 1016 with an access point 1018 either in auser's home, or via a cell tower, or any kind of wireless componentwhich can receive the data from the food recycling appliance 1002. Thenode 1018 will communicate a data through a network such as the Internet1020 to a server 1024 associated with the food recycling appliance 1002.The server 1024 can communicate data to social media network 1026, whichcan also represent an advertising entity, game application entity,communication entity, and so forth. The server 1024 can communicate datathrough the Internet 1020 back to a device 1022 of the user. Thealternate entity 1026 can also communicate data to the device of theuser 1022.

The wireless communication component 1016 can communicate via WiFi,cellular technologies, 5G, Bluetooth, or any communication protocol thatis desirable. The particular wireless protocol is not necessarilymaterial to the present disclosure. With the capability of sensingcharacteristics of the waste food 1015, coupled with the capability ofcommunicating data wireless lead to a network server 1024, the disclosedinfrastructure enables new capabilities particularly with respect to theuser experience in recycling waste food.

For example, the following scenario is enabled by virtue of the systemdisclosed in FIG. 10A. The food recycling appliance 1002 senses usingthe sensor component 1017 that the user of the recycling appliance hasthrown away or consumed approximately 10 grapefruits within a one-weekperiod of time. Either on a per cycle basis, or on an aggregated basisover a period of time, the food recycling appliance 1002 transmitssensor data or manual data provided by the user via a wirelesscommunication component 1016 to network server 1024. The network server1024 can evaluate the sensor data and apply, in one example, machinelearning algorithms to evaluate and determine characteristics associatedwith the waste food of the user.

For example, a machine learning algorithm can be trained on visual dataof typical or expected waste food. Banana peels, chicken bones, bread,grapefruit rinds, and so forth, can all be used to train a machinelearning algorithm such that when new waste food is placed within thebucket 1004, the system can retrieve images of the waste food and make aclassification decision or determination regarding the type of wastefood that has been placed within the bucket 1004. The sensor 1017 caninclude a camera for taking images, video, a light for eliminating thecontents of the bucket 1004, and so forth. The controller 1014 caninclude also machine learning data such that an evaluation of thecontents of the bucket 1004 can be performed locally on the foodrecycling appliance 1002. For example, the machine learning algorithmcan be trained on clean chicken bones and identify where there might beedible meat left on a chicken bone. By training the machine learningalgorithm on what are known to be clean chicken bones as well as chickenbones that have some edible meat left thereon, the system can learn howto characterize edible portions of waste food and non-edible portions.This process can apply to any type of food in which there is acombination of an edible component and a non-edible component. Forexample, an apple may have remaining edible portions. A grapefruit mighthave some sections that are not eaten and can be identified as edible,etc. In another example, a machine learning algorithm can be trained anddeveloped to learn about generally what good waste is in the appliance.The output of such a model could be, for example, 5% bone, 20% fat, 25%meat, 30% vegetable, 10% bread, and 10% water.

However, in general, the computer processing that is described hereincan be performed either locally on the food recycling appliance 1002 orremotely on a server 1024. The processing may also be partiallyperformed on a local basis and partially be performed remotely. Thesystem may also balance the computational location based on factors suchas bandwidth availability, energy consumption, speed or a timing of whencomputational results are necessary, and so forth.

The machine learning training can also be based on moisture withinparticular foods. Thus, in addition to a visual representation of wastefood, a machine learning algorithm can also be trained on the amount ofmoisture that is extracted from the waste food. For example, half-eatengrapefruit will have more moisture than a fully eaten grapefruit. Thesystem can ultimately report to the user on a per cycle basis how muchfood waste has been processed and can provide a more particular reportwhich can include an estimate of the edible food that was processedrelative to the non-edible food that was processed.

In another aspect, the system, when sensing the contents or thecharacteristics of the waste food 1015, may cause the motor to rotatethe bucket 1004 such that the sensor component 1017 can receivedifferent views of the contents of the bucket 1004. Sensor data canthereby include multiple angles of use of the waste food 1015. Thesystem could include a scale 1006 that also provides data with respectto a weight of the waste food 1015. The user may also provide additionalintelligence regarding the waste food the communication with the foodrecycling appliance 1002 via a user interface 1011. For example, thefood recycling appliance 1002 can include an automatic speechrecognition system as part of its controller 1014 such that the user canopen a lid, place several grapefruit halves into the bucket, and merelysay “grapefruit”. The additional simplified user input can enable userdata to be coupled with the sensor data to improve the likelihood or theprobability of successfully characterizing the waste food placed withinthe bucket.

The server 1024 can receive the various kinds of sensor data, user data,waste food weight, temperature of waste food, and/or any combination ofsuch data and use that data to drive further communications with theuser. For example, the system could coordinate with other networkentities to determine a location of the user device 1022. If the usergoes into their standard grocery store, for example, the system couldutilize an analysis of the received data which provides insight into thecharacteristics of the waste food 1015 that the user has been placingwithin their food recycling appliance 1002, and could present either inadvance or in real time food purchasing suggestions on a user device1022. For example, because the system knows that the user has beeneating a relatively high volume of grapefruit, the system could suggestto the user that they need to purchase additional grapefruit. The systemcould present recipes to the user which are coordinated with the type offood they are eating, or in one aspect, the type of food they should beeating, which might be more healthy than the food that has beenidentified as part of the waste food. For example, the system mayevaluate one or more of the types of food that is recycled, an amount ofmoisture that is extracted from recycled food, a time associated withthe recycled food, an amount of energy used to recycle the food, and soforth, and based on this data as well as optionally user profile data oraggregated data associated with a social networking group, to presentsuggested recipes or food items to the user for future purchases. Therecipes could be tailored for improving food efficiencies. For example,the recipes might indicate a shift in the type of food that the user iseating or may focus on the types of foods that the user or householdeats more of. In other words, if the first type of food is recycled witha relatively large proportion of still edible food, a recipe my focus ona second type of food that is recycled within the household, but thathas a less amount of edible food remaining on average.

In another example, the system could be fine-tuned to identify whichaisle the user is in within grocery store and can suggest items forpurchase within that aisle. This aspect of the disclosure would includecoordination with a server associated with a particular grocery storewhich identifies a location of respective items within the store.Knowing the food recycling history for a particular user, the system canmake more tailored and specific advertisements or promotions forspecific foods which are physically near the user in an in-storeshopping experience. Such items can be suggested in connection with arecipe or just general items that the user is likely to desire topurchase.

The system 1024 can also generate a database of user profiles that canbe based on the waste food data received from the food recyclingappliance 1002. This data could be coupled with other data such associal networking data, data input from the user, and so forth toprovide business intelligence that can drive advertising decisions tothe user, friends or relatives of the user, and so forth.

The user could download an “app” from a server 1024 onto their mobiledevice 1022 which can also be used to communicate with the foodrecycling appliance 1002. For example, via a Bluetooth connection, thecommunication between the appliance 1002 and the user device 1022 couldresult in the following scenario. Assume that the food recyclingappliance 1002 has received a new input of waste food 1015 into thebucket 1004. A preliminary analysis indicates that there is a relativelyhigh likelihood that the waste food 1015 is grapefruit. However, theprobability of classification has not reached an appropriate threshold.The appliance 1002, to communicate its pulmonary findings to the userdevice 1022, which could launch the app and simply request a 1-Click orsimplified confirmation from the user of what the food waste consistedof. The user could receive a notification asking them to click on “1” ifthe food waste is grapefruit or “2” if the food waste representsoranges. The system could utilize the top N best list of possibleoptions to present data to the user for disambiguating purposes.Furthermore, the user could of course enter or speak into their mobiledevice 1022 the waste food items as they are placing them into theappliance 1002 at the proper coordination between the user device 1022and one or more of the appliance 1002, the server 1024, or end or entitycan occur to coordinate the analysis of the waste food 1015 with theintelligence gained from the user input.

Further machine learning can be achieved by training models based onuser profiles which can combine data regarding user characteristics(age, sex, hobbies, social media habits, purchasing habits, athleticactivity, family circumstances, etc.) and food waste characteristicsobtained by the food recycling appliance 1002. The machine learning datacan also include aspects of timing. For example, given the particularuser profile, and given the known timing associated with food recyclingcycles that runs in connection with the type of food waste that the useris throwing away, the system can determine when a best time to advertisea particular food, or a particular recipe, or to make some other type ofcommunication to the user. For example, an evaluation of the wasted foodcan lead to a suggestion that the user needs to exercise or workoutgiven the fat content of the food that they are recycling.

Intelligence gained and stored by the server 1024 can also becoordinated with sales of food products. For example, the server 1024 toreceive information from a grocery store chain the grapefruits are onsale for the next 2 days or that a large amount of grapefruit have beenreceived at several locations and needs to be moved to the public andthus will have the price reduced. The system could select, based on thevarious user profiles, which users have been eating some or a lot ofgrapefruit and which are probable targets who would act upon agrapefruit sale.

Advertisements and information could be distributed either directly tothe user device 1022 or through social media networks such as Facebook™or Instagram™. Any social media outlet is contemplated as potentiallyreceiving such data.

It is noted that the food recycling appliance 1002 is of the type andsize that are disclosed herein rather than a larger commercial model.Accordingly, the intelligence that is gained is based on a bucket sizetypically between 2.51 Liters and 10 Liters a volume and within theconfined space of an appliance case of approximately a total volume of35 Liters or less. The reason for this restriction is that the foodrecycling appliance 1002 is designed for home use on a countertop.Configuring such a system requires additional innovations with respectto the size and positioning of the internal components and the businessintelligence that can be obtained for such a system is more tailored toindividual or family use within the home and the type of waste food andthe amount of waste food which is processed in a single recycling cycle.

Currently, it is predicted that the average household wastes $2200 infood per year. One application of the technology disclosed hereinincludes the ability to train or notify users regarding thecharacteristics of their waste food, particularly with respect to anamount of edible food contained within the waste food relative to thenon-edible food within the waste food. The information presented to theuser device 1022 from the server 1024 can include such details as anestimate of the amount of edible chicken that has been thrown away overthe past 2 months. For example, the system could determine that $30 ofedible chicken was left on the bones that were recycled within thesystem over the last several months. A notification can includeinformation of that analysis which could be presented to the user on theuser device 1022 which can encourage them to be more efficient withrespect to cleaning the chicken bones as they eat. The system couldevaluate the edible/nonedible components of the waste food, arrive at adollar value of the edible component, and provide aggregate reports onthe amount of food waste for the household.

In one aspect, the app operating on the user device 1022 would enable anopt in feature in which the user could control the sensing andtransmission of data regarding the waste food to the server 1024. Theuser would have control over privacy issues and be able to disengage thesensor 1017 as desired. Any control of the system could also beperformed remotely by the user 1022 such as turning the device on,starting a cycle, controlling the use of the sensing component 1017,turning off the cycle, and so forth.

Another aspect of the system includes competition. For example, a groupof users could start a game in which they were competing for somereward. The competition could be related to healthy foods eaten, theleast amount of edible food wasted, the amount of wasted food, and soforth. Assume, for example, that 5 individuals signed up for a givencompetition project in which a six-month period will be evaluated withrespect to their waste food and a prize will be given to the individualwho wastes the least amount of food. Of course a trust factor isbuilt-in in which the users are trusted to properly place their wastefood into the food recycle appliance 1002. The system can then evaluateand track the characteristics of the waste food of the individuals overthe predetermined period of time. Running data can be provided to eachindividual as well as to the individuals in the group with respect tohow well they are doing and comparison to others in the group. A prizemight be a gift certificate at a local grocery store or at a restaurant.At the end of the period of time, the center data retrieved from each ofthe food recycling appliances 1002 of the respective users is evaluatedand compared to identify a winner in the particular category as it isdefined. Such competitions can be also communicated through social medianetworks or individuals can be connected with other individuals withsimilar interests in improving their health or the type of food thatthey eat. The ability to understand and evaluate the food that isrecycled within particular homes enables this type of game application.In general, a gamification concept includes receiving data from at least2 independent food recycling appliances 1002 each with a respectiveindividual, comparing and evaluating the respective data and thenproviding incentives or game application options to the individual usersin ways that can encourage them to engage in particular behaviors whichare beneficial to their health or improves the efficiency of their foodintake.

In one aspect, the determination of edible food, nonedible food, aclassification of food, and so forth can be determined by a detection ofan amount of humidity that is within the bucket or within the food. Forexample, if one were to put an apple in the bucket and run a foodrecycling cycle, the system could evaluate how much humidity waswithdrawn from the apple and thereby calculate or determine that it wasan apple that was recycled. Thus, the amount of moisture that the systemextracts from waste food is one aspect of how the system can determineor classify a type of the waste food. From such calculations, the systemcan determine how much food waste weight can be saved. The foodrecycling appliance 1002 can, for example, include the amount ofhumidity or moisture extracted from the waste food as part of the centerdata that is transmitted to the server 1024. Visual sensor data, userinput data, and so forth can be supplemental data which can furtherrefine the probability of successfully categorizing or characterizingthe waste food.

Another aspect of sensing the type of waste food that is placed withinthe bucket can include sensing the waste food as it is being placedwithin the bucket. The sensing module 1017 can be included in a lid thatis lifted to an open position as waste food is entered into the bucket.Atop portion of the food recycling appliance 1002 could also include acamera sensor. The system could begin to evaluate a food type as theuser brings the food to the bucket. For example, if the user has onehalf of a grapefruit that is being placed within the bucket, the systemcould begin to capture images of the half grapefruit as the user isholding the half grapefruit above the appliance and is moving towardsplacing the half grapefruit in the bucket. The system could even providefeedback to the user to show a different side of the food items or torotate the food item and then provide a light or an audible beep whenthe system has properly identified the item. This could be helpfulparticularly where multiple items are placed within the bucket and thesensory system might have difficulty characterizing the food within thebucket if, for example, there is a combination of a grapefruit and achicken bone. Where multiple items might be placed within the bucket,having the system sense the items as they are being placed within thebucket can be helpful. Again, the user could also simultaneously say“chicken” or “grapefruit” or “soup” as they place items within thebucket which data would further be coordinated with the machine learningalgorithms to quickly identify the waste food.

In another aspect, the user could utilize the app on the user device1022, to take pictures of the food that is going to be recycled. Forexample, if a couple has finished their meal and is going to recycle thefood on their plates, they could simply take a picture of the food ontheir plates via the app or via their camera app. That image could becoordinated with other sensory data from the food recycling appliance1002 (humidity, weight, other images, other user input, and so forth),to classify or characterize the waste food.

In one aspect, the server 1024 can store profiles based on individualusers, households, groups of users, and so forth. The data can beaggregated and/or anonymous and be sold to advertising entities or otherentities that might be interested in such business intelligence data.For example, restaurant advertisers or grocery store advertisers mightbe able to utilize the data for targeting a particular demographic whichis known, via the center data gathered herein from the food recyclingappliances, for eating a certain amount of food. The system could alsoprovide geographic business intelligence data. For example, if a numberof individuals in a city utilize the food recycler appliance 1002, thesystem could identify that the amount of grapefruit recycled in a givenneighborhood or a given portion of the city, has spiked in the lastmonth. This information could be utilized to drive an advertisingcampaign by a grocery store for a discount on grapefruit which could betargeted to that geographic region.

Another aspect of this disclosure involves prediction algorithms.Historical usage of food recycling appliances 1002 can be processed andevaluated for prediction purposes. For example, advertising,gamification, or other notifications can be provided to users based on apredictive algorithm that in the following month, the amount ofgrapefruit or chicken that is recycled is likely or predicted to spikes.Discounts, coupons, rebates, and so forth can be provided to users on aprofile basis, geographic basis, and so forth, according to or based onpredicted food waste.

The sensor data associated with waste food can also be received andcoordinated with other data regarding shopping habits, whether online orin store. For example, users might be able to coordinate data regardingtheir grocery store purchases and make such data available to the appunder device 1022 or to the server 1024 such that an overall global viewof their purchasing habits as well as their disposal or recycling habitscan be evaluated. In this regard, reports might be presented to theusers which can help to identify the fact that they purchased a certainamount and type of food, but did not recycle as much of that food as waspredicted or that should have happened. In this regard, the system canprovide reports to users which present a comparison of food purchased bya household relative to food recycled by the household, with theappropriate estimation of timing or an expectation of recycled foodrelative to food purchase. For example, the system can take into accountperishables relative to canned food. Thus, by tapping into foodpurchases, the server 1024 can give an even a better picture forindividual households with respect to potential additional foodrecycling, which can occur.

Advertisements can also be presented directly on the user interface 1011of the food recycling appliance 1002. A graphical interface can includea touchscreen, like the touchscreen of an iPhone for example, that userscan access and accept offers or promotions. Such offers and promotionscan be coordinated with an app on their device 1022 for redemption.

Any subsystem (motor, air circulation, filtering system, heating system,sensor, etc.) can have its status remotely checked from the server 1024.For example, a central control operated from the server 1024 can reportthat 10 filters in a particular region need to be replaced. The centralcontrol 1024 can coordinate and aggregate status data of a plurality ofdistributed appliances 1002. In another aspect, the filters 1012 on theappliance 1002 can be removable. For example, a removable filter mightbe expected to function in removing odor from the air for a period of 6months. The system could sense the effectiveness of the filters based onair data, number of cycles used, amount of waste food processed in theplurality of cycles, amount of humidity extracted from waste food, andso forth. The appliance 1002 could report to a centralize server 1024the status of the subsystem, such as the filter system, and couldprovide a notice to the user via the user interface 1011, an app or userinterface on a device 1022 or in some other fashion to notify them tochange their filter in a certain amount of time, such as 2 weeks. In oneaspect, the server 1024 could coordinate with a merchant siterepresented by 1026, such as Amazon.com, to pre-order or preconfiguringan order, which can be presented to the user, simply to confirm thepurchase. For example, if a new filter should be delivered within 2weeks to the user, the system 1024 could communicate the data to themerchant site 1026, who could configure a presentation of a userinterface through which a purchase of the needed filter could easilyoccur. The user could simply confirm the purchase via a fingerprint. Thesystem could then access their user address information such that nomanual entry would be needed for the purchase. The user interface 1011could also include a biometric reader for facial recognition orfingerprint recognition or the like.

The user interface 1011 can include a touchscreen with menu-drivenuser-selectable options and visual and/or sonic user feedback. Further,the user interface 1011 can include a wireless interface to provide forexternal input, feedback, and control for the various features describedabove. Through the user interface 1011, a user can select the particularfunction and/or cycle for performing either desiccation of food wastepresent within a bucket vessel inserted into the appliance 1002 or forcreating stocks and broths through an infusion process.

FIG. 10B illustrates an example method according to an aspect of thisdisclosure. A method includes receiving, over a network, at a server andfrom a food recycling appliance, sensor data obtained from a sensorcomponent configured within the food recycling appliance, the sensorcomponent obtaining data associated with characteristics of waste foodplaced within a bucket of the food recycling appliance (1050), applyinga machine learning algorithm to the sensor data to determine a firstamount of edible food within the waste food and the second amount ofnonedible food within the waste food, to yield an analysis (1052) and,based on the analysis, communicating food-related data to a deviceassociated with a user of the food recycling appliance (1054).

The food-related data can be one of associated with a gamificationprocess which encourages the user to purchase certain foods, a socialmedia campaign in which the user is compared to other users in a socialmedia group with respect to food recycling practices. The method canfurther include communicating data to a social networking platformwhich, based on the data, presents information to the device associatedwith the user within the social networking platform.

The sensor data can relate to one or more of an amount of humiditywithdrawn from the waste food, a temperature of the waste food, a weightof the waste food, and a type of the waste food. In another aspect, themachine learning algorithm can be trained on example waste food itemshaving a first known amount of an edible component and the second knownamount of non-edible component.

The method can include receiving user input data received at the foodrecycling appliance, the user input data characterizing the waste food.The method can also include generating, based on the analysis, a valueof an amount of edible food that was contained within the waste food andpresenting the value of the amount of edible food was contained withinthe waste food to the device. In another aspect, the system cancalculate the value of the amount of edible food that was containedwithin the waste food as associated with a plurality of food recyclecycles over a given period of time. In another aspect, communicating thefood-related data to the device associated with the user of the foodrecycling appliance can further include indicating a recipe to thedevice based on the sensor data.

In another aspect of this example, the network-based server 1024 couldprovide control over a group of food recycling appliances. For example,energy usage per cycle could be evaluated for one or more food recyclingappliances and a corresponding cost of energy on a geographic basiscould be evaluated such that the network-based server 1024 couldtransmit a modification of part of the food recycling process for aparticular group of food recycling appliances, which causes them to useless energy per cycle. A service level agreement is to be provided toindividual users which could maintain a certain cost of energy, werecertain energy usage on average for cycles. In another aspect, forexample, a food recycling process could be modified based on thedetection of a temperature of the waste food deposited within thebucket. If hot food is deposited within the bucket, then less energymight be needed in the cycle to heat the food as part of the recyclingprocess. Such modifications to a standard food recycling cycle can behandled locally based on sentenced data, could be controlled remotelyfrom a network-based server 1024, or may be coordinated between the twoentities in which final modifications to a food recycling process can bedetermined in a coordinated effort.

The network-based server 1024 can retrieve an aggregate data about thewaste food processed in a plurality of respective food recyclingappliances and process this data to enable both business intelligentreports which can provide intelligence with respect to the type of foodthat is being recycled, an amount of energy required to recycle apurchase particular amount of food, and so forth. In one example,predictive algorithms can be used which can predict for an individual, asocial networking group, a geographic region, and so forth, what type offood is expected to be processed in the food recycling appliances. Basedon this prediction, the network-based server 1024 could communicate arevised food recycling cycle to particular food recycling appliances.For example, if it is expected over the next month given the weather,holiday seasons, events and the news, economic conditions, or so forth,that more of a particular type of food will be recycled, and less energyper cycle might be required for that particular type of food. Thenetwork-based server 1024 could cause an adjustment to the foodrecycling cycle in preparation for the expected type of food. Forexample, if less waste food containing bone is expected, then lessgrinding and chopping would be required to process such food. Similarly,if a greater amount of energy might be expected, then an increased cyclemight be communicated to food recycling appliances. Again, this processcould also occur locally where the amount of energy used per cycle couldbe adjustable based on a sentencing or detection, or through user input,of the type of food that is in a given bucket and ready to be recycled.Using these techniques, the overall system can improve and tailor theamount of energy used per cycle to be more closely aligned with the typeof food that is placed within the bucket to be recycled. This canprovide an overall improvement in energy usage.

Claims can be directed exclusively to steps that occur in the examplesset forth above on one or more of the food recycling appliance, a deviceseparate from the food recycling appliance and which is operated by theuser, a network-based server that communicates with the food recyclingappliance, or a separate network-based entity that receives data fromthe network-based server and provides advertisements, discounts,medications, or other data to a user or a group of users. The separatenetwork-based entity can be a social media network as set forth above.All of the transmissions, requests, responses, analysis of data, thegraphical user presentations, and so forth are included as within thescope of this disclosure from the standpoint of each separate node orentity disclosed herein. In other words, one claims that could bedirected to a social media network that receives the type of data thatis gathered from the analysis of waste food at a food recyclingappliance of the type disclosed herein, and wherein the social medianetwork performs certain actions by way of postings, promotions,advertisements, or coordinated communications to users in a particularsocial media group or to individuals. Other claims could be directed toactions purely performed by the food recycler appliance and data that itreceives through its analysis of the waste food as well as other inputsfrom the user and processes, transmissions, data received, controlinformation it receives, and so forth.

Another aspect of this disclosure relates to odor control. In theprevious version of the food recycler, the filters are built into thefood recycler case and are essentially permanent. There is no easymechanism of replacing the filters. Where a technician may need to go inand replace the filters, the filters are hardened cylindrical objects.FIG. 11A illustrates or another aspect of this disclosure in which a newfood recycler appliance 1100 is provided with the ability to receive areplaceable filter. The food recycler appliance 1100 includes the bucket1102, waste food shown as feature 1112, an air circulation system 1110which retrieves air 1114 from the bucket and provide the air 1116 to afilter 1108 which includes a replaceable filter bag 1104. A door 1106opens to reveal a filter receiving structure 1108 that receives thefilter bag 1104. The filter is configured to have a structure with anair permeable outer covering or mesh which contains active carbon or anyother type of filter material. A handle can be configured on the filterbag 1104 as well. The location of the filter receiving structure can beanywhere within the case of the food recycler appliance 1100. The aircirculation system 1110 only needs to be able to be configured to causeair to flow through the replaceable error filter 1104.

FIG. 11B illustrates an aspect of this disclosure in which a filter 1126is configured within a lid 1132 of a food recycler appliance 1120. Thelid 1132 is typically configured above the bucket 1122. The filter 1126can be ring-shaped, circular and can, in one aspect, include slits orcomplimentary structures to barriers or structures within the lid 1132.One benefit of positioning a replaceable filter 1126 within the lid 1132is an efficient use of space within the food recycler appliance 1120.The current lid in the recycler shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B is essentiallyjust plastic with no other structural use. A lid which contains areplaceable filter is restructured such that an intake opening 1128 isprovided to receive air from the interior of the bucket 1122 such thatthe air can flow through the filter 1126. A barrier 1134 is provided inwhich the airflow can move through the filter 1126 and out and exhaustopening 1130 and into the atmosphere. An interior portion 1124 of thelid 1132 is reconfigured to enable air flow through the lid andultimately out into the atmosphere. In one scenario, an upper portion ofthe food recycling appliance 1120 is also reconfigured to provide theair circulation system which will draw air from the interior of thebucket 1122 and guide it through air ducts to the lid for filtering.

Another aspect of FIG. 11B includes the ability to open a panel eitheron the top of the lid or below the lid for accessing and replacing thereplaceable filter 1126.

FIG. 11C illustrates a top view of the lid 1132 position within the foodrecycling appliance 1120. The bucket is shown 1122 and an arrow 1131representing airflow from the bucket 1122 into the intake opening 1128which represents air being received from the air circulation system forprocessing through the air filter 1126. The barrier 1132 is also shownwhich can be used to guide or control the flow of air through the lidhaving the filter 1126.

The arrow 1134 illustrates generally the airflow path through the filterand which ultimately leads to the exit port opening 1130 and the arrow1133 representing the exit of air into the atmosphere. As can beappreciated, the air filter 1126 shown in this figure can be generallypancake shaped with a slit built into the filter which is complementaryto the barrier 1136. Other structures within the interior 1124 of thelid 1132 can also be adjusted to manage or control the airflow throughthe interior of the lid in the space which is designed to receive thereplaceable error filter 1126. It is noted that arrow 1131 and arrow1133 only generally represents the flow of air into the lid forfiltering and the flow of filtered air from the lid. The air circulationsystem can be configured within the interior of the food recyclerappliance 1120 in any manner for retrieving the air from the bucket1122, and controlling the flow of the air into the lid 1128, through thefilter 1126, and through an exit port 1130.

In one example, while FIG. 11C shows the entrance port 1128 adjacent tothe exit port 1130, the positioning of the entrance port 1128 in theexit port 1130 can be at any location within the lid. For example, thelid 1132 may consist of an entrance port generally in the position ofport 1128, and include no barrier 1136, but have an exit port on theside opposite the entrance port 1128. The overall air circulation systemcan be adjusted to provide the air at any position of the lid and toretrieve the filtered air from any position of the lid. A briefreference to FIG. 3A notes the position of an opening 360 on a side ofthe lid 304. The upper portion of the food recycler 300 in that figurehas been removed and some of the internal structure of the casing isshown. In this example where in the lid 304 is reconfigured to receive areplaceable filter, the air intake or air export openings can beconfigured on a side of the lid as is shown by feature 360. As otherinternal air circulation system, air ducts can be connected to such sideopenings configured within the lid.

FIG. 11D shows another aspect of the air circulation system. The bucket1122 is shown with air flow from the bucket 1140 to a fan 1148 that ispart of an air circulation system 1142. The heirs directed to the intakeport 1128 which causes the air to flow through the filter 1126 and apattern or pathway shown by feature 1134. The barrier 1136 is shown inthis example as well. The exit port 1130 can direct the air to anotherair duct 1144 which ultimately directs the air 1146 to the exterior ofthe food recycler appliance 1120. As noted above, the position of theair intake port 1128 in the air export port 1130 can be anywhere in thelid. It is preferable that these ports be configured on a side portionof the lid. It is also preferable that the fan 1141 is configured withinthe food recycler appliance 1120 outside of the lid and the bucket 1122.However, in other configurations, the fan 1141 could be configuredwithin the lid with an air intake opening 1128 on the underside of thelid so as to draw air directly from the bucket 1122 into the lid forfiltering. In other words, one opening could be on and under side of thelid and another opening could be on a side portion of the lid, or evenon a top portion. For example, lid configuration could include a fanstructure for drawing air directly from the bucket 1122 through anopening underneath the lid, the interior of the lid could be configuredto force airflow over a sufficient amount of the necessary filteringmaterial, and the lid could be configured with an exit port that is ontop of the lid which causes the filtered air to exit the food recyclingappliance 1120. In this configuration, one benefits of this approach isthe elimination of a need for an air circulation system within otherparts of the food recycling appliance 1120 which can enable an increasein the size of the bucket 1122 for improved efficiency.

FIG. 11E illustrates another aspect of this disclosure and which afilter configured for the lid is generally pancake shaped, but whereinthe lid includes additional barriers 1152, 1154, 1156, 1158 and 1160.These are example barriers which cause a particular path 1166 of the airto flow from an intake port 1162 through the filter 1150 around thevarious respective barriers and to an exit port 1164. This example showshow a particular airflow could be designed within the lid of the foodrecycling appliance 1120. With this design, the air intake opening 1162and the air exit opening 1164 could similarly be configured on a side ofthe lid, or on a respective top and bottom portion of the lid, and soforth. The lid in this scenario could also include one or more fanswhich could be configured at any location along the path 1166 and fordrawing air from the interior of the bucket, through the filter 1150 andto the exterior of the food recycling appliance 1120. The pathway 1166can essentially be configured as a maze in which the path of the air iscontrolled to move through the maze in a particular order as one wouldtraverse through a maze.

The above examples of a replaceable filter typically contemplate agenerally pancake shaped filter that fits within the lid or a filterthat might be shaped like a tea bag and that has positions within afilter receptacle within an interior of the food recycler appliance1120. FIG. 11F illustrates another approach in which the lid 1170 isshown with an interior portion in which a filter 1176 is provided inwhich a spiraling effect with respect to airflow 1178 can beexperienced. In this scenario, the filter can be considered not shapedlike a pancake, but more as a stack of pancakes or, more generally, likethreads of the screw. In this manner, air would flow into the air intakeport 1172 at one elevation and the air would travel along a path 1178 inwhich it might travel numerous times around a central structure 1180 ina spiral fashion and ultimately exit and exit port 1174 at a higherelevation than the intake port 1172. One benefit of this type ofapproach is that it can enable air to flow over more active carbonmaterial (relative to the pathway envisions in FIG. 11D) and thusimprove the filtering of the air. In this case, the structure of thefilter 1176 is modified such that it may include its own barriersbetween layers of the filter such that some aspects of the control ofthe path of the air is built into the filter itself. Shapes of thefilters described herein are generally considered to be circular, butthey can be square shaped, rectangular shaped, arbitrarily shaped,oval-shaped, and so forth.

In one aspect, the lid 1170 is configured to receive more than onefilter such that multiple filters processed the air within the lid 1170.Access to the interior cavity can be from a top of the lid, a bottom ofthe lid, or even from a side portion of the lid for a user to access theinterior filter cavity and for removing all filter and inserting areplacement filter.

In another aspect, it is generally assumed that the amount of activecarbon within the filter is uniformly applied across the filter. Inother aspects, the amount of active carbon within the filter could vary,particularly along a complicated pathway. For example, the filter 1126shown in FIG. 11D can have a larger or thicker component near the intakeopening 1128 and be thinner or have less active carbon near the exitport 1130. Included within this disclosure is the concept of varying thethickness or the physical amount of active carbon within the filtereither up or down along the pathway of airflow through the filter. Inone aspect, for example, an overall filtering system might include onefilter configured within the lid of the food recycling appliance 1120,but also include another filter at another location within the foodrecycling appliance case prior to the air exiting into the atmosphere.This may be a requirement where additional filtering is needed toproperly control for odor. This approach still increases the availablespace within the food recycling appliance 1120 for an enhanced bucketsize. In this respect, the overall air circulation system and filteringoperation could include a first filter having a first shaped andconfigured within a lid of a food recycling appliance 1120, which wouldprocess first air to yield first filtered air. The air circulationsystem could then communicate the first filtered air to a second filtercontained within the food recycling appliance 1120 that is containedwithin the interior portion of the food recycling appliance 1120, butexternal to the lid. The air circulation system could also first causethe air to flow through a first filter that is external to the lid andthen complete the filtering process by forcing the filtered air througha filter configured within the lid. It is contemplated within thisdisclosure that these various air circulation systems could beconfigured in which each of the filters is replaceable and easilyaccessible by a user.

In another example aspect, the lid of the food recycling appliance 1120includes a sealing gasket to seal in the presence of vacuum to a potvessel rim so as to facilitate the generation of a vacuum or otherwiselow pressure environment within the pot vessel during operation of thefood recycling appliance 1120. A port with a connecting tube thatcommunicates to the low pressure side of the vacuum pump located in themain body of the food recycling appliance 1120 via a flexible connectionis provided so as to allow the lid of the appliance 1120 to open andclose. The port includes a liquid check valve which prevents liquidwater from entering the port tube and stops condensate from drippingfrom the vent hole when the lid is open. The lid can also include aninfrared laser temperature sensor probe aperture and probe positioned soas to allow for thermal visualization of the food mass duringprocessing. The lid can also include additional and/or alternativesensors, such as a sonic proximity sensor to detect the presence of foodwaste, a negative pressure sensor, an exhaust air humidity sensor, and alid closure and safety latch sensor.

In one aspect, the lid further includes an emergency over-vacuum reliefvalve set that is triggered at a pre-set safety factor. A vacuum reliefinterphase between the lid operating handle and the vacuum relief valveis provided to release vacuum and to allow the food cycler lid to besafely opened in the event of a power interruption or cycle failurecondition such as in the case of required operator intervention to cleara jam.

FIG. 12 illustrates a method example with respect to using replaceablefilters in a food recycling appliance. The method includes receivingwaste food in a bucket contained within a food recycling appliance(1202), receiving a replaceable filter bag in a receiving cavity of thefood recycling appliance (1204), initiating a food recycling process torecycle the waste food (1206), extracting moisture from the waste foodto yield humid air (1208) and channeling the humid air through an airduct through the receiving cavity containing the replaceable filter bag(1210). As noted above, channeling the humid air can include directlyreceiving the air into the lid from the interior of the buckets forfiltering or through a separate air circulation system. Replaceablefilter bag can represent a replaceable filter position within the foodrecycling appliance exterior to both the bucket and the lid structure orif it can include a filter configured to be position within the lid.

A ratio of a volume of the bucket relative to an overall volume of thefood recycler can be between 0.0717 and 0.2857. The food recycler can,in one aspect, have particular dimensions which are beneficial for ahome appliance. As noted above, the food recycler is configured to havean overall appliance volume of 35 liters or less and the bucket has acapacity to receive waste food of between 2.51 liters to 10 liters,inclusive. Thus, the volume of the bucket can be between 2.51 liters or10 liters, in size. Based on the ratio of the first volume of the bucketrelative to the overall volume of the food recycler, the overall volumeof the food recycler can be between 8.79 liters and 35 liters. In someinstances, the configuration can include one or more of a height ofapproximately 380 millimeters, a width of approximately 270 millimetersand a length of approximately 310 millimeters.

The replaceable filter bag can be one of ring-shaped, circular, squareor configured to fit within the receiving cavity contained with the lid.The replaceable filter bag can have a structure which enables a spiralairflow through the replaceable filter bag within the lid of the foodrecycler appliance. An air circulation system can be configured to passair received from the bucket through an air channel to an intake openingin the lid, through the receiving cavity containing the replaceablefilter bag, and out an exit opening in the lid. The air, as it travelsthrough the receiving cavity containing the replaceable filter bag, canmove in one or more of a spiral configuration, a circular configuration,a maze-shaped configuration, and a multi-layered configuration. Themethod can include receiving a first replaceable filter and a secondreplaceable filter within the food recycling appliance.

FIG. 13 illustrates an example of a food recycler 1300 including a setof sensors 1302, 1304 to detect a type of vessel 1310, 1320 insertedinto the food recycler 1300 for either infusion of flavor and nutrientsfrom surplus food to create a foodstuff or conversion of food waste intonutrient preserved stable granular media. In one aspect, the foodrecycler 1300 includes a series of wires configured so as to induceelectro-magnetic energy into a vessel 1310, 1320 when the vessel 1310,1320 is placed within the cavity 1306 of the food recycler 1300 and thewires are energized.

In one aspect, placement of a vessel 1310, 1320 into the cavity 1306 ofthe food recycler 1300 causes the food recycler 1300 to identify thestructure and purpose of the particular vessel inserted into the cavity1306. For instance, the vessels 1310, 1320 may be distinct in appearanceand purpose, each including one or more distinct features that, uponbeing detected by the food recycler 1300, cause the food recycler 1300to determine whether to perform a desiccation or infusion cycle. Forexample, as illustrated in FIG. 13, a pot vessel 1310 can include a lipfeature 1312 that has a unique shape or configuration that, if detectedby the food recycler 1300, causes the food recycler 1300 to recognizethe pot vessel 1310 as an indication that a user wishes to initiate aninfusion cycle to produce a stock or broth. A bucket vessel 1320 caninclude a different lip feature 1322 or other component that has aunique shape or configuration that is distinct when compared to the lipfeature 1312 of the pot vessel 1310. In some aspects, the bucket vessel1320 additionally has a different shape or form factor compared to thatof the pot vessel 1310. The food recycler 1300 may detect these featuresof the bucket vessel 1320 and recognize the bucket vessel 1320 as anindication that a user wishes to initiate a desiccation cycle to producea granular material.

In one aspect, the food recycler 1310 includes, within the cavity 1306,one or more sensors 1302, 1304 that are usable to detect the distinctfeatures of the pot vessel 1310 and of the bucket vessel 1320. The oneor more sensors 1302, 1304 may be positioned within the cavity 1306 suchthat, when a vessel 1310, 1320 is inserted into the cavity 1306, atleast one sensor detects the unique features of the inserted vessel1310, 1320. For example, if a pot vessel 1310 is inserted into thecavity 1306, the sensor 1302, as a result of its positioning within thecavity 1306, may detect the lip feature 1312 of the pot vessel 1310. Thesensor 1302 may transmit a signal to the controller of the food recycler1300 to indicate presence of the pot vessel 1310 within the cavity 1306.If a bucket vessel 1320 is inserted into the cavity 1306, another sensor1304, as a result of its positioning within the cavity 1306, may detectthe lip feature 1322 of the bucket vessel 1320. Similar to the sensor1302, the sensor 1304 may transmit a signal to the controller of thefood recycler 1300 to indicate presence of the bucket vessel 1320 withinthe cavity 1306.

The sensors 1302, 1304 may include pressure sensors, proximity sensors,infrared sensors, flex sensors, or any other type of sensor that iscapable of detecting differing features of the vessels 1310, 1320 thatmay be inserted into the cavity 1306. These sensors 1302, 1304 are inelectrical communication with the controller to enable the transmissionof signals to the controller upon detection of a vessel 1310, 1320within the cavity 1306 or of removal of a vessel 1310, 1320 from thecavity 1306. In one aspect, the sensors 1302, 1304 are microswitchescontacts that can detect the presence of a mechanical-coded tab whichindicates, to the controller, whether a vessel is present and, if so,whether the vessel is a pot vessel 1310 or a bucket vessel 1320.

The controller, based on the signals obtained from the sensors 1302,1304, may update a user interface of the food recycler 1300 to present auser with various options for the cycle to be performed using the vessel1310, 1320 inserted into the cavity 1306. For instance, if the user hasinserted a pot vessel 1310 into the cavity 1306, the user, via the userinterface, may be presented with one or more programs (e.g., functions,recipes, etc.) that may be executed to produce a desired stock, broth,or other food item using the food present within the pot vessel 1310. Inone aspect, in response to detecting the presence of a pot vessel 1310within the cavity 1306, the controller may activate one or more othersensors of the food recycler 1300 to identify the contents of the potvessel 1310. This data garnered through identification of the contentscan be used to further identify the programs that may be executed toinfuse the contents of the pot vessel 1310 into a liquid solution toproduce a desired food item. Upon user selection of a program via theuser interface, the controller may engage one or more components of thefood recycler 1300 to grind, shear, hold at a specific and/or safetemperature, stir, or otherwise perform operations for creation andmaintenance of the desired food item within the pot vessel 1310. Thecontroller, via the user interface, may provide the user with feedbackand alerts during the infusion process.

If the user has inserted a bucket vessel 1320 into the cavity 1306, theuser, via the user interface, may be presented with a variety ofdifferent desiccation cycle profiles that can be used to createdifferent types of granular media. These different desiccation cyclesmay differ based on the time required for completion of the cycle, theenergy use for the cycle, and other factors that are external to thefood recycler 1306 (e.g., exhaust temperature, noise levels, etc.).Similar to the example described above, in one aspect, the controllermay activate one or more other sensors of the food recycler 1300 toidentify the contents of the bucket vessel 1320, as well as the volumeand water content of these contents. This data may be used to determinethe different factors for the different cycle profiles, which can bepresented to the user via the user interface. Based on the userselection of a particular desiccation cycle, the controller may engageone or more components of the food recycler 1300 to grind, stir, mix,heat, vacuum, move air, condense, filter air, control and monitorhumidity and temperature, and the like in accordance with the cycleprofile. In one aspect, the food recycler 1300, via the user interface,provides users with modes of a rapid condensing cycle to produce aliquid condensate or a normal cycle to produce a moist warm air exhaust.

In one aspect, the pot vessel 1310 is manufactured or constructed from aferromagnetic material, such as a ferromagnetic stainless steel materialor a cast alloy including ferromagnetic elements. This ferromagneticmaterial is utilized in order to generate heat within the pot vessel1310 in an induced electromagnetic field.

In one aspect, the bucket vessel 1320 includes a lower inlet port thatis configured to allow incoming warm air to rise through a food wastecolumn to provide surface dissociation of the waste material. Further,the bucket vessel 1320 provides a negative atmospheric pressureenvironment to create a positive intercellular pressure differential tofacilitate passage of water vapor through the cellular membrane of wastematerial to accelerate desiccation and to lower the water boiling pointwithin the cell to elevate vapor pressure. The bucket vessel 1320 can bedepressurized and returned to atmospheric pressure in a repeatingpulsatile cycle following a program prescribed sequence of time andnegative pressure delivered by the vacuum and purge pump and operationof negative pressure release valves. The pulsatile vacuum processaccelerates rupture of the cellular membrane of the waste material andprovides a drive force for intercellular moisture to evacuate the cell,thereby accelerating cellular desiccation.

The vacuum and purge air pump is an electrically powered air pumpcapable of producing low air flow rates but high negative front-endpressure and is so designed as to permit passage of condensate laden aireither above or below the dew point. In one aspect, the pump is apositive displacement pump with the attribute of being able to act as aclosed valve in the non-running state so as to maintain a negativepressure forward of the pump in the enclosed bucket vessel 1320.Alternate embodiments include, but are not limited to, axial flow orturbine compressors with a one way valve. The vacuum and purge air pumpserves dual functions of producing a negative pressure environmentwithin the enclosed bucket vessel 1320 during the draw down and holdfunction and to remove moisture laden air during purge cycles. In thevacuum phase the pump is capable of producing sustained negativepressure to 30 inHg and in to purge phase capable of displacing fourtimes the cavity volume per minute at ambient pressure.

The food recycler 1300, at a prescribed position of rotation, auger airports align with corresponding air ports located on the auger bearingsupport tube to allow an air communication between the interior of thebucket vessel 1320 and an exterior of the bucket vessel 1320. Thisfacilitates neutralization of a contained negative pressure bypermitting free passage of air into the bucket vessel 1320 to equalizethe contained negative pressure to the external environmental pressure.

In another aspect, the bucket vessel 1320 includes a vacuum relief portthat is located in the bucket vessel body. The vacuum relief port is avalve that can be activated by mechanical or electrical communication soas to create communication between the interior of the bucket vessel1320 and the exterior of the bucket vessel 1320 in a location in thelower regions of the bucket vessel 1320 so as to create an airflowthrough the waste media.

In one aspect, the bucket vessel 1320 further includes a port located inthe base of the bucket vessel 1320. This port includes a valve whichserves as a seal to render the bucket vessel 1320 water tight for thestorage of food waste. The valve can also serve as a seal for thecreation of a negative pressure atmosphere within the bucket vessel 1320when vacuum is applied, which can be externally operated to open andprovide drainage for liquid condensate or can be opened to provide aninflow of air so as to neutralize the internal negative pressure withinthe bucket vessel 1320. The valve is so positioned to allow externaloperation, and the port is so located as to provide air communication toa region under the waste media so as to create air flow through thewaste media with air inflow.

In one aspect, the bucket vessel 1320 further includes a rotor that canperform various functions. For instance, via clockwise rotation, therotor produces material reduction through shearing and pulverizationbetween the rotor arm blades and a stationary macerator blade. A closeclearance between the agitator arms and the bucket vessel bottomprovides a scouring action and the rotor shape is such as to provideuplift for waste material from the bottom, toward the macerator blade toprovide the described mechanical reduction through shearing andpulverization. The swept shape of the blade is such as to provide a holdand shear action between the rotor and the stationary macerator blade.In the counter-clockwise rotation, the swept blade design forces wastematerial outward to the bucket vessel wall where it engages with aplurality of uplifting protrusions that are so placed as to create anupward mix flow in non-aqueous materials through their upward facingplanar shape, and in aqueous materials by the creation of vortexcurrents.

In one aspect, the food recycler 1300, through the controller, measuresthe motor current in combination with a Hall effect position sensor todetermine agitator rotation speed versus current or motor winding phasedelay. This is performed to determine a rotor over torque or rotor stallcondition created by a waste food jam between the rotor and maceratorblade. The food recycler 1300 will stop clockwise rotation of the rotorand enter into a clearing cycle by reversing to counter-clockwiserotation following a prescribed clearing cycle. In the event the foodrecycler 1300 is unable to autonomously clear the jam, it will enterinto a safe shut down mode and produce an alarm.

In one aspect, the food recycler 1300 further includes a Hall effectsensor near an input coupler between the food cycler 1300 and the bucketvessel 1320. The bucket vessel rotor includes a magnet to communicate tothe Hall effect sensor and indicate to the food recycler 1300 therelative position of the rotor assembly to the controller, thus allowingthe operation of the rotor so as to provide opening and closure of therotor air inlet port for the pulsatile vacuum.

In another aspect, instead of the Hall effect sensor and the rotor port,the food recycler 1300 includes a vacuum relief port. The vacuum reliefport is located in the base of the bucket vessel 1320 so as to providerelief air under the mass within the bucket vessel 1320. The valve isnormally closed so as to provide a liquid barrier for the storage of wetwaste and provide a seal to facilitate the creation of vacuum within thebucket vessel. The valve can be externally operated by applying amagnetic field or via solenoid plunger located within the cavity 1306.

The pot vessel 1310 may also include a rotor. Similar to the rotor ofthe bucket vessel 1320, the rotor of the pot vessel 1310 rotates in botha clockwise and counter-clockwise fashion. Its wedge shape provides liftof solids from the bottom to a vertical rising central fluid vortex inthe clockwise direction, with its close tolerance to the pot vesselbottom creating a scouring action. In the counter-clockwise direction,solids are pushed to the outside of the pot vessel 1310 to create arising column of solids and fluids along the pot vessel interior sidesto facilitate even heating of the solution to promote infusion whileminimizing temperature differential within the solutions entity.

In both the pot vessel 1310 and the bucket vessel 1320, agitation,proportionate heat application, and active mass temperature feedback areunder the control of the controller to create a narrow temperaturehysteresis range. Within the pot vessel 1310, this creates a preferredinfusion temperature. Within the bucket vessel 1320, this creates apreferred desiccation temperature without carbonization. Thus, thecontroller can use the temperature hysteresis range to maintain an idealtemperature within the pot vessel 1310 or the bucket vessel 1320 basedon the corresponding cycle being performed.

With regard to the pot vessel 1310, at the end of an infusion cycle, thepot vessel 1310 may contain solids that have a higher density than waterand sink to the bottom, infused aqueous liquid mid-layer at a relativelyequal density to water, and floating fats which are generally at a lowerdensity than water. Fats can vary from a liquid state above theirmelting temperature to a solid state below their melting temperature.However, these fats generally remain at a lower density than water. Themelting point of these fats may vary based on their composition. Thebottom layer is a waste stream, the mid later is a desired product, andthe top layer is a fat-based waste stream.

The food recycler 1300, in one aspect, includes a dual concentricseparator that facilitates separation of these three layers. The dualconcentric separator includes two filter plates, a lower filter meshplate with a metal backer that allows the lower filter mesh plate to actas a plunger/filter, separating the solids from the infused solution,forcing the solid waste to the bottom of the pot vessel 1310 and holdingit in the lower region of the pot vessel 1310. The upper filter issimilarly constructed with the addition of an upward facing outercontainment ring for the containment of solidified fats and is attachedto a concentric shaft so as to allow independent movement of the shaftof the lower plate filter and its shaft, both of which communicateupward to operated.

In use, upon completion of an infusion cycle, the food recycler 1300holds the contents of the pot vessel 1310 at a specified temperature soas to facilitate safe food storage and to allow the fats to be held in aliquid state above their melting temperature. The operator places thedual concentric separator into the pot vessel 1310 passing through theliquid fat layer with both the upper and lower filter plates. The lowerfilter plate forces the solids to the bottom, and the second filterplate rests on top of it. The solution is permitted to cool below themelting point of the fats which undergo a state change from liquid tosolid. The operator elevates the upper filter plate through the liquidsolution and is able to capture and remove the fat solids from the potvessel 1310 for disposal. The infused solution product may be pouredfrom the pot vessel 1310 with the waste solids restrained by the lowerfilter plate. Upon completed extraction of the infused solution product,the waste solids can be transfused to the bucket vessel 1320 forprocessing as food waste. The fats can be retained as sanitized fats foruse or disposal. The infused solution is stored and used as foodstuff.

In one aspect, for a desiccation cycle, the critical end-of-cycleparameter is the moisture content within the waste material. Processsensing inputs are available to the controller from a humidity sensorlocated in the lid and in the outbound air stream from the compressor ofthe food recycler 1300. Thus, based on the amount of humidity detectedusing the humidity sensor, the controller can determine whether thedesiccation cycle has been completed. For instance, the controller mayevaluate the humidity level within the vessel to determine whether thishumidity level is below a minimum humidity threshold. If the humiditylevel is below the minimum humidity threshold, the controller maydetermine that the desiccation cycle is complete.

In one aspect, the food recycler 1300 includes an external cyclecontroller contact connector, which provides a contact interface betweenthe controller and an external environment to provide coordination ofexothermic machine cycles with external environmental needs. Theinterface, in one aspect, is a dry contact closure at 24 VDC currentlimited to interface with a standard thermostat.

In one aspect, the food recycler 1300 includes an external air ductinterface to couple the food recycler 1300 to an external duct systemusing a 2 or 3-inch round duct suitable for HVAC exhaust air. This canprovide optional ducting of the exhaust air to an external environment.

During a desiccation cycle, air exhaust can be directly vented to anexhaust air stream or internally diverted through a condenser. In oneaspect, the condenser is a two-stage process with the first stage beinga venturi condensate separator and the second stage being a pressurevessel with an end-of-cycle condensate purge. In an alternate aspect,the condenser is a Peltier chiller condenser, wherein the condenser usesthe cool side of the Peltier circuit bridge and the heat side produces awarm air stream for reintroduction into the bucket vessel 1320 via theair makeup port during the purge portion of the pulsatile cycle.

In one aspect, within the wall of the cavity 1306 is a thermal andacoustic insulation layer to reduce heat transfer from the pot vessel1310 or bucket vessel 1320 to the interior of the food recycler 1300 andto reduce acoustic transmission resulting from the mechanical operationsperformed therein. The outer case of the food recycler 1300 can includean acoustic damping material layer to reduce acoustic transmission fromthe internal mechanical processes to the outside environment, therebyreducing noise. In one aspect, within the air exhaust port of the foodrecycler 1300, the food recycler 1300 includes a series of acousticbaffles tuned to the operating frequency of the air pump compressoroutput. These acoustic baffles are used to dampen pulsatile noisetransmission from the exhaust air.

FIG. 14 illustrates an example method 1400 associated with infusion offlavor and nutrients from surplus food to create a foodstuff. The method1400 may be performed by a controller of the food recycler. The method1400 includes detecting insertion of a pot vessel for infusion of flavorand nutrients from foodstuff into an aqueous solution (1402),identifying the contents of the pot vessel and the desired outcome ofthe infusion (1404), and initiating various food recycler components toperform infusion according to the desired outcome (1406). Uponinitiating the various food recycler components to perform infusionaccording to the desired outcome, the controller may monitor theinfusion cycle to determine whether the infusion cycle has beencompleted (1408). If the infusion cycle has not been completed, thecontroller may continue to monitor the infusion cycle. However, if theinfusion cycle is complete, the controller shuts down the food recyclercomponents and maintains the product at a stable temperature (1410).Further, the controller indicates, via a user interface or through otherindicators of the food recycler, that the infusion cycle is complete(1412).

FIG. 15 illustrates an example method 1500 associated with conversion offood waste into nutrient preserved stable granular media. The method1500 may be performed by a controller of the food recycler. The method1500 includes detecting insertion of a bucket vessel into the foodrecycler for desiccation of food waste (1502). A user of the foodrecycler may be required to remove the bucket vessel lid so as tofacilitate closure of the food recycler. In an aspect, closure of thefood recycler results in an enclosed atmosphere in which the bucketvessel is encapsulated. In an aspect, upon receiving a start command toinitiate a desiccation cycle, the food recycler performs a systemdiagnostic check to ensure that the desiccation cycle can be initiated.Further, the food recycler may confirm that the lid has been closed.

The method 1500 further includes determining a recycling profile, volumeof food waste, and water content of the food waste (1504), determiningthe duration of the desiccation cycle based on the recycling profile,volume of food waste, and water content of the food waste (1506), andinitiating the food recycler components to perform desiccation of thefood waste (1508).

In an aspect, the food recycler begins a grind cycle by activating thebucket vessel auger to apply a torque to the food waste within thebucket vessel. This may cause the food waste mass to engage against astationary feature shaped to reduce the food waste mass by mechanicalcompaction, laceration, and pulverization. In the event of a torquestall, the food recycler can perform a blade clearing cycle, whereby theauger is rotated in an opposite direction to push the food waste massinto the stationary mixing elements. If the torque stall is cleared, thegrind cycle is activated to continue the desiccation cycle. In anaspect, if the food recycler is unable to resolve the torque stall or amaximum number of torque stall events is reached, the food recyclerhalts the desiccation cycle and produces an alarm or other indication ofthe issue. A user may be required to manually clear the jam within thebucket vessel to resolve the torque stall issue.

Upon completion of the grind cycle, the food recycler commences a heatphase in which the lid-mounted radiant heat array is activated to raisethe temperature of the food waste mass to a climax desiccationtemperature. The climax desiccation temperature, in some aspects, is 115degrees Celsius. During this heat phase, the bucket vessel auger turnscounter-clockwise at a reduced speed. The counter-clockwise rotationagitates the food waste mass and forces the food waste mass into a setof stationary features so shaped as to create upward material flow andcreate mixing to facilitate even heating of the food waste mass.

When the food waste mass desiccation cycle set point temperature isreached, the process is advanced to the desiccation cycle at which timethe radiant lid heater is deactivated. The desiccation cycle commenceswith the inductive heater elements coming under the control of theinfrared lid sensor and being cyclically activated or modulated tomaintain the set desiccation temperature of the food waste mass.Further, the bucket vessel auger is activated to turn the food wastemass in a counter-clockwise direction and is brought to a stop at thevacuum relief port closed position. Once in position, the vacuum drawdown cycle commences.

During the vacuum draw down cycle, the vacuum pimp is engaged to drawdown bucket vessel within the food recycler to a vacuum pressure set bythe pump displacement and speed in full cycle mode. Full vacuum is heldfor a set time with the purpose of creating hemorrhagic fractures in thecellular membranes of the waste material so as to accelerate moisturetransmission from within the cell through the cellular membranefractures.

Upon completion of the vacuum draw down cycle, the auger resumesrotation in the counter-clockwise direction at a speed set as to openand close the vacuum relief port at a particular cycle as to create apulsatile vacuum cycle rising to atmospheric pressure and falling to 1.5mbar and creating air flow within the bucket vessel from the vacuumrelief port location at the bottom of the food waste mass to the top ofthe bucket vessel in a convective air stream moving toward the lowpressure source. In an aspect, an alternate rapid cycle option can beselected at the time of start up, and a secondary process is engagedwhere a Peltier process recycle accelerator condensing cooler/heater isengaged.

Air output is measured by hygrometers located in the lid and exudate airtube. Using these measurements, the controller determines whether thedesiccation of the contents within the bucket vessel is complete (1510).When a series of consecutive readings or a period of time that concurand confirm that the food waste mass has reached a predetermine moisturecontent, the cycle is complete and the food recycler is transitionedinto a cool down phase. The controller may shut down various foodrecycler components as part of the cool down phase (1512). For instance,in the cool down phase, all heat sources are shut down. The auger ismoved to the port open position and the vacuum pump continues to run ata reduced speed so as to create air movement within the bucket vessel soas to provide cooling.

When temperature sensors in the lid and air exudate tube produce aseries of concurrent readings over time that concur and confirm that thebucket vessel and its contents have reached a predetermined temperature,the food recycler machine moves to the ready to open state, indicatingthat the desiccation cycle is complete (1514) and moving the foodrecycler to a standby mode.

FIG. 16A illustrates a front view of an example food recycler 1600. Thefood recycler 1600 can have a side housing or casing 1602 which on theleft side and a right side can be generally flat and on the frontportion of the food recycler 1600 can have rounded edges. A lid 1604,which can form a top surface of the food recycler 1600, can be part ofthe lid structure and can include an exhaust vent 1606. This exhaustvent 1606 can be typically configured within 2 cm from a hingeassociated with the lid 1604 or from the top rear edge of the lid 1604.The lid 1604 can be released by the user interacting with a latch 1612configured in a front portion of the housing 1602. Right below the latch1612 can be configured a control button 1610. The positioning of thelatch 1612 and the control button 1610 are designed to be adjacent toone another such that the user only needs to go to one particular areaof the food recycler 1600 in order to interact with or control the foodrecycler 1600. The user can open the lid 1604 or turn the food recycler1600 on or off by focusing on one location of the system. To turn thefood recycler 1600 on or off, the user only needs to depress the button1610. The positioning of these two control components simplifies theuser interaction with the food recycler 1600. The latch 1612 and thecontrol button 1610 can be, for example, within 2 mm of each otherphysically. While the latch 1612 is shown as configured above thecontrol button 1610, they could also be configured side by side or withthe latch 1612 below the control button 1610.

Air intake vents 1608 are positioned along an angled lower surface ofthe food recycler 1600. In one aspect, the vents 1608 are configured insome or all of the angled surface which is defined between a bottomsurface (not shown in FIG. 16A) and a vertical side housing 1602. Theair intake vents 1608 are used to draw the air into the food recycler1600 such that the air follows a particular path around components, abucket containing food waste, and air filter, and ultimately into thelid 1604 and out an exhaust vent 1606. There are several configurationsfor the location of the exhaust vent disclosed herein.

FIG. 16B illustrates a side view of the food recycler 1600. In thisview, the air intake vents 1608 are shown as being configured along theangled surface near the bottom of the food recycler 1600. In one aspect,the rear surface 1614 is vertical such that the food recycler 1600 canbe leaned up or positioned against a wall. With a vertical rear surface1614, it is expected that the exhaust vent 1606 would be configured tocause air to flow out a top surface of the lid 1604.

A side profile of the latch 1612 and the control button 1610 areprovided. It is noted that the control button 1610 extends away from thefront surface of the food recycler 1600.

FIG. 16C illustrates some of the internal components of an example foodrecycler. The lid 1604 and exhaust vent 1606 are shown as beingseparated from the rest of the food recycler 1600. Component 1622represents a cover or motor housing that contains a motor that willdrive a gear system configured within the component represented byfeature 1630. Air vents 1624 in the motor housing 1622 can enable airreceived via air vents 1608 to flow through the motor housing 1622. Theentire airflow through the unit will be described in more detail below.

A bucket 1628 is shown as being configured within a bucket housing 1626.The bucket 1628 is removable by a user and is configured to becomplementary to and fit within the bucket housing 1626. Generallyspeaking, the motor contained within the motor housing 1622 will drive agear system in compartment 1630 which will cause a blade system torotate within the bucket and process the waste food. Heat will also beprovided through a heating plate or other component as part of the baseunit 1708 such that the food can both be chopped up and heated. Theheater can be configured in or part of compartment 1630. Component 1616contains a fan that draws the air from a top region of the bucket 1628either directly or through an air channel configured within the lid1604. The airflow will draw moisture from the bucket area 1628 andultimately out of the food recycler 1600. The fan will pull air downthrough component 1616 and through an open channel in compartment 1620.Filter component 1618 includes a compostable filter which will filterthe air and which is easily removable. The filter component 1618 it canbe a compostable filter system. An example height of the filter systemmight be approximately 144 mm. In one aspect, a screen cover 1615 can beused to cover the fan component 1616 and a screen cover 1619 can be usedto cover a top portion of the filter component 1618.

FIG. 16D illustrates some of the internal components of an example foodrecycler 1600. In this figure, more details about the lid 1604 areprovided. For example, air flowing up from the bucket 1628 can enterinto an airflow region 1634 in the lid 1604. The configuration of thelid 1604 can control the airflow to an exit region 1636 that causes theair to flow down into component 1616 which contains the fan. The fanforces air into component 1620 and up through the filter component 1618back into the lid through the region 1638. These airflow regions 1634,1636, 1638 can be created by forming a number of small openings or holesin a bottom surface of the lid 1604 and configuring internal airflowchannels within the lid 1604 to control the flow of air to and from thelid 1604. A locking component 1632 is shown as part of the lid 1604 andwhich is complementary to and interacts with the latch 1612. The lockingcomponent 1632 can be used to either lock or release the lid 1604 uponinteraction with the latch 1612 by a user.

FIG. 16E illustrates some of the internal components of an example foodrecycler 1600. In this figure, the bucket 1628 is shown as beingseparated from the bucket housing or bucket receptacle 1626. The bucket1628 is removable and is configured with a complementary sidewall withsidewall extensions 1629 that can be complementary to interior wallindentations 1631 in the bucket housing 1626. In this manner, the bucket1628 can be easily placed into the bucket housing 1626 and seatedproperly for use. FIG. 16E also shows a compartment 1638 that can beconfigured to store the power cord for powering the food recycler 1600.

FIG. 16F illustrates a bottom view of an example food recycler 1600. Abottom surface 1640 is shown as well as a bottom view of the controlbutton 1610 and the latch 1612. In this figure, the air intake vents1608 are shown as encompassing the lower portion of the food recycler1600 except for the rear surface 1614. To further control the airflowinto the food recycler 1600, the air intake vents 1608 could bepositioned intermittently or in specific regions of the surface in whichthe air intake vents 1608 are configured.

FIG. 16G illustrates a top view of an example food recycler 1600. Theexhaust vent 1606 is shown as well as a top view of the latch 1612. Thetop view of FIG. 16G illustrates the angled nature of the left and rightedges of the food recycler 1600. These are provided by way of examplebut illustrate a preferred shape of the housing of the food recycler1600. Other configurations are contemplated as well and are discussedbelow.

FIG. 16H illustrates a side and rear view of an example food recycler1600. Configured within the rear surface 1614 of the food recycler 1600can be several features. An exhaust vent 1640 is shown by way ofexample. It is preferable that the exhaust vent be configured within thelid 1604 as is shown by feature 1606. However, an alternate channelingof air from the food recycler 1600 can include a structure that channelsair out of the rear surface 1614. In one aspect, the exhaust vents 1606are configured within the lid to cause the air to be channeled out a topportion of the lid, and preferably in a back region of the lid. Otherregions could be used as well. In this aspect, air is not vented out ofa back wall of the food recycler 1600. In yet another aspect, the air isnot vented out of a back surface of the lid 1604 but is channeled out ofa top surface of the lid 1604.

Feature 1642 represents generally the configuration of the electricalcomponents which are used to operate the food recycler 1600. Compartment1638 is shown as storing an extension cord 1629.

FIG. 17A illustrates various modular components of an example foodrecycler 1700. One aspect of the food recycler 1700 is that itscomponents can be accessed and replaced in a modular fashion. Thevarious components can be swapped in and swapped out. FIG. 17A shows thevarious modules that can be easily removed and replaced. For example,the system 1700 can include configuring the various components such thatthey can easily be accessed and replaced. For example, a base component1708 can include a motor housing 1622, and a gear casing 1630 which canbe configured with air intake vents 1608 and motor compartment airintake vents 1624. This configuration can be generated such that anouter casing 1602 can easily sit on or attach to the base component1708. A bucket container 1626 can be configured to sit on the gearhousing 1630. The bucket container 1626 can be configured to receive abucket 1628.

Sitting on top of the motor housing 1622 can be a component 1620 that isconfigured to receive air flowing from a fan component 1616 and causethe air to flow through the component 1620 and into a filter component1618. The housing 1602 is shown with a volume or an interior cavity 1704which is complementary to and can receive the fan component 1616.Another volume or cavity 1702 is shown within the housing 1602 and whichis complementary to a configuration of the filter component 1618. Belowthe cavity 1704 and the cavity 702, and built into the structure of thecasing 1602, can be another cavity that is complimentary to the airflowcomponent 1620. Another component 1714 is shown, which is at least partof the configuration of a rear surface of the system 1700. Thiscomponent 1714 can include a cavity 1638 for holding an extension cordand another portion 1642 that can contain a control system and otherelectrical components. The housing 1602 can also include an interiorcavity or volume 1706 which is configured to enable the bucket container1626 to be positioned inside the housing 1602. The lid 1604 is shown aswell as an exhaust vent 1606 as part of the lid structure.

The bucket container 1626 and/or the base 1708 shown in FIG. 17A canalso be characterized as a bucket receptacle. A heating element or heatcan be provided either within the region 1630 of the base 1708 or in thebucket container 1626 to transfer heat to or cause the bucket 1628 to beheated as part of the processing of the waste food placed within thesystem.

The electrical control system and the communication of power and controlsignals to the motor, heating elements, the fan, or other elements arenot shown but would be understood to one of skill in the art.

The latch 1612 is shown as well as the control button 1610 configured onthe front portion of the exterior surface of the housing 1602. Thevarious components shown in FIG. 17A are configured such that theaccessibility and removability of various components is easy for an enduser. For example, the system can be configured such that the user couldaccess the fan component 1616 from a top portion of the cavity 1704 andremove the fan component and replace it with a new fan component in casethe original fan stopped working. Not shown in this figure, but includedwithin the structure, would be the proper electrical connections thatwould power the fan and provide control data from the control systemhoused in the component 1642. In another aspect, the user may remove thehousing element 1602 and thus reveal the fan component 1616 that couldthen be removed and easily replaced by the user.

Similarly, the user could access and replace the filter component 1618either from the opening 1702 and a top portion of the casing 1602 orupon accessing the filter 1618 after lifting the housing component 1602off of the base component 1708.

FIG. 17B illustrates in more detail the filter system 1720. The filtercontainer 1618 is positioned with a base structure 1710 into an openingor configuration represented as feature 1712. Feature 1712 is part ofthe component 1620 which receives air from the fan and which directs theair through the interior portion of the component 1620 to the opening oroutput port 1712 so that the air can be filtered using filter 1722. Thefilter 1722 is compostable and is configured to be removably insertedinto the filter component 1618. A handle 1724 can be configured with thefilter 1722 for easy insertion and removal from the component 1618. Atop cover or filter screen 1619 can have many air flow vents or openingsto enable air to flow through the filter and out the top. Replacing theair filter 1722 can be achieved by opening the lid 1604, removing thetop cover or filter screen 1619, and utilizing the handle 1724 to pullthe filter 1722 out of the component 1618. The user can then replace theold filter with a new filter in a similar manner.

FIG. 17C illustrates the filter 1722 with more detail. The filter 1722can be configured with cylinder walls 1728 that are non-porous and canbe made from a material such as pasteboard or heavy paper. The designcontrols the flow of air through the filter and not out the side wallsof the filter. A bottom surface 1730 and a top surface 1732 can be madefrom a permeable filter material to allow airflow while containing theinternal charcoal pieces 1726 that filter the warm moist air. Othermaterials can be used as well for the filter. Note that using pasteboardor heavy paper can enable the entire filter to be compostable. Othermaterials can be used as well to maintain the functionality of thefilter 1722 and remain compostable as an entire unit.

FIG. 18A illustrates a top view 1800 of an example food recycler and across-sectional view of some of the components. This figure illustratesa top view of the lid component 1604 including the exhaust vent 1606. Atop view of the latch 1612 is also provided. A cross-sectional line A-Aillustrates the location of the view of system 1802.

As shown with system 1802 in FIG. 18A, various features are shown whichfurther illustrate aspects of this disclosure. The lid 1604 is shownwith a first cavity 1808. The cavity 1808 generally represents a channelor volume in which air would flow from a top of the bucket (not shown)through the cavity 1808 to the fan component 1616. A fan 1804 is shownthat can be used to cause the air to flow or to be drawn from the region1808 and into the fan component 1616. The fan 1804 forces the air downthrough a final channel 1814 into the cavity or channel defined bycomponent 1620. The air then flows to the filter component 1618 in whicha compostable filter is positioned in region 1812. In one aspect, thefilter 1812 includes a particular structure for improving theperformance of the filter. For example, non-permeable sidewalls 1813 canbe configured in connection with the filter 1812 for the purpose ofmaintaining the airflow through a middle portion of the filter 1812.Airflow shown by arrow 1816 illustrates a flow through the component1620 and into the filter 1812. A casing can be provided for the filtercomponent 1618 into which removable compostable filter can bepositioned. For example, the user may access the filter component 1618through the opening 1702 discussed above and shown in FIG. 17A. Theremovable filter 1812 can include sidewalls that do not have openingsbut are closed and which can force air through the middle portion of thefilter 1812.

As air will be moving in the direction shown by arrow 1816, it may alsobe important for the filter 1812 to be properly seated in position andprevented in some degree from moving or being pushed upward by the flowof air. Thus, one aspect of this disclosure, includes a configuration ofthe filter 1812 with a seating structure and a material that properlyadheres to a base of the filter component 1618. For example, tape,Velcro® or other hook-and-loop fasteners, or a magnetic structure mightbe used to help firmly seat a filter 1812 into the filter component1618. The element 1710 is representative of a seating structure whichcan be used to seat a filter on to a receiving structure 1712 shown inFIG. 17A.

FIG. 18A further shows example gearing components 1806, electricalcontrol components 1642 and a motor 1818.

FIG. 18B illustrates a top view 1800 of an example food recycler and across-sectional view 1820 of some of the components. In a top view, thelid 1604 is shown with a line A-A illustrating the location of thecross-sectional view through the system 1820. In system 1820, a cavity1622 is shown in the lid 1604. The cavity 1622 can be used to draw moistair through the air vents 1634 (as shown in FIG. 16D) and into theregion 1622. Cavity 1622 can connect with cavity 1808, as shown in FIG.18A, to cause the air to flow through the air vents 1636 into the fancomponent 1616 (as shown in FIG. 16D) as controlled by the fan 1804.

FIG. 18B also illustrates the latch 1612 and the control button 1610 aswell as the front portion of the air intake vents 1608. An interiorcavity of the bucket is shown as feature 1824. A blade structure isshown by way of example. A central column 1826 supports a number ofdifferent cutting blades such as blade 1827, blade 1830 and blade 1832.Cross blades 1828, 1834 are attached to a wall of the bucket 1628 andcan be further deployed to improve the chopping capability of the bladesystem. Further example details of the gearing and heating mechanismsare shown as features 1836, 1838.

FIG. 18C illustrates a side view of an example food recycler 1850. Foodrecycler 1850 includes exterior housing 1856, air intake vents 1858, alid 1854, and a control button 1852. In one example, exhaust vents couldbe configured near region 1862. In an alternate embodiment in which theexhaust is configured to flow out the back of the food recycler 1850, anissue might arise where the food recycler 1850 is positioned against awall. It would be undesirable for the heated and moist air to be forcedout of a rear surface of the food recycler 1850 and immediately impactthe wall. Accordingly, this figure illustrates a tilted or angled rearwall or surface 1860 of the system 1850. The angle of the tilted surface1860 can be anywhere from between 1° and 30° relative to a verticalline. The purpose of the tilted surface 1860 is to maintain a desirableprofile associated with the system 1850 as well as provide sufficientspace between the region 1862 and the wall behind the system 1850. Moistand heated air can be vented from openings in region 1862 and would notdamage the wall or be forced to some degree back into the system 1850because the exhaust vents 1862 are too close to the wall.

Note that interior airflow channels can be modified such that the airflowing through the filter 1618 described above would properly bedirected to the exhaust vents 1862. Such an airflow may or may not becaused to travel through the lid 1854. In other words, the region 1862could be configured within the housing 1856 of the system 1850. Inanother aspect, the region could be configured as part of the lid 1854such that the interior structure of the lid 1854 causes the air to flowout a back portion of the lid rather than a top portion of the lid as isshown in other figures.

FIG. 19 illustrates an internal air flow pathway through an example foodrecycler 1900. In this example, cold air is drawn into the air intakevents 1608 on a bottom portion of the housing of the system 1900. In oneexample, the entire structure of the system 1900 can also be reversedwhere the bucket is configured on the right side and the air intakevents 1608 are configured on the left side.

The initial airflow is shown by way of example through the A arrows inFIG. 19. Once inside the housing, the air can flow through vents 1624(not shown in FIG. 19) and into the motor housing 1622. The B arrowsrepresent the cool air flowing over the motor and other componentstowards a region configured below the bucket container 1626 and bucket1628. The air can cool the motor as the cool air is heated by the motor.The C arrows represent the flow of the air from the region of the gearsystem 1630 and up through channels represented by the D arrows that areconfigured between the bucket 1628 and the bucket container 1626. The Carrows represent lightly warmed air traveling between the gears and theheat plate and can be used to cool the gears as well. The D arrows showthe flow of air, which might be slightly heated by the motor and thegearing system, up the side of the bucket 1628 to further heat the air.At the top of the bucket 1628, the E arrows illustrate the flow of theair from the channel between the bucket 1628 and the bucket container1626 and down into the interior portion of the bucket 1628. The airinside the interior portion of the bucket 1628 will be further heatedand receive moisture from the waste food. The blade system representedby feature 1826 is used to chop the waste food.

The F arrow represents the air flowing from the interior of the of thebucket 1628 up through air vents 1634 configured within the lid 1604 anddefined by cavity 1822 over into cavity 1808 also configured in lid1604. From cavity 1808, the G arrow represents the flow of air throughair vents 1636 and to the fan 1804. The H arrow illustrates the flow ofair from the fan 1804 and through component 1616 and into the filtercomponent 1618. One aspect of the component 1616 is that it can beconsidered a cold pan where some of the moisture in the air condenses.In one aspect, not shown, condensed moisture from the component 1616 canremain in the component 1616 and generally evaporate or can be removedvia another channel or exhaust port configured in a rear wall orelsewhere within the housing of the system 1900. The I arrow shows theair flowing from component 1616 and through the filter component 1618and into the cavity 1810 configured within the lid 1604. In one aspect,the filter component 1618 includes an active charcoal filter thatfilters the warm moist air. The J arrows show the flow to the cavity1810 and to the exhaust port 1606. The K arrows illustrate the flow ofthe air out the top rear portion of the lid 1604.

As noted above, the channel 1810 can be reconfigured to cause the heatedand moist air to exit exhaust port and a back wall or back facingportion of the lid 1604. In another aspect, a channel can be configuredto cause the air to flow out an exhaust vent 1640 configured, forexample, in an upper portion of the housing represented by feature 1862of FIG. 18C.

FIG. 20A illustrates a side view of another example food recycler 2000.In this example, the general configuration of the system 2000 differs.Note that the exterior housing 2002 is generally curved along the entirefront and side portion of the housing. A rear surface can be flat andvertical or can be angled similar to the angled rear wall discussedabove. An opening 2008 can receive a bucket for processing waste food. Alid 2006 can include similar components discussed above for receivingmoist air and communicating moist air through to a filter system and tosupport the release of the filtered air out into the environment. Lowerintake air vents 2010 are shown as well. The purpose of this figure isto illustrate that another shape of the overall system 2000 that can beprovided with other interior components and structures being similarlysituated. An on/off control button 2004 is also shown.

FIG. 20B illustrates a side and rear view of another example foodrecycler 2000. In this example, a rear surface 2014 is shown asgenerally being flat and can be vertical or can be tilted as is shown inthe figure. In one aspect where the exhaust vent is configured in region2012, the interior fan and channels designed to control the airflowthrough the system would cause the heated moist air described above tobe vented out of the exhaust vents 2012 in the rear wall 2014 of thesystem 2000. The closed lid 2006 is shown as well as a portion of thecontrol button 2004.

FIG. 20C illustrates a side view of another example food recycler 2020.In this example, the exterior housing wall 2024 is circular on allsides. In this example, the lid 2028 is also circular and as is shown,the exhaust vents 2022 are shown as configured within a rear portion ofthe lid 2028. The intake vents 2026 are shown as well along the bottomportion of the system 2020. The on/off control button 2004 is alsoshown.

FIG. 21A illustrates a side view of another example food recycler 2100.In this alternate embodiment, the bucket 2106 is configured to be placedon a surface 2108 for processing waste food. Rather than placing thebucket 2106 completely inside the units, in this alternate embodiment,the bucket 2106 sits mostly on the outside of the unit. The handle ofthe bucket 2112 is shown as well as a lid 2102. The bucket is positionedon a platform 2108 that would include at least a portion of thecomponents described above. A portion of the system 2112 is shown whichwould contain at least some of the components described above, such asthe motor, a fan, a filter system, and so forth. A region 2110 can beconfigured to be positioned at least in part over the lid 2102 of thebucket 2106 to help maintain the bucket on the system while the foodrecycling process occurs. A top region 2104 is shown of the system 2100which can include some of the cavities described above for receivingmoist air and communicating the moist air through a fan and filtersystem for exhausting out of the system either through a top portion orrear portion of the system 2100.

FIG. 21B illustrates a top view of an example food recycler 2114 and across-sectional view 2120 of some of the components. System 2114illustrates a top view having a top portion of the bucket 2102, thehandle 2112 and a top portion of the system 2104. Line A-A illustratesthe position of the cross-sectional view of system 2120. With system2120, the user can position the bucket 2122 with a top portion 2102 atleast partially underneath a top portion of the system 2104. The region2124 generally represents the location where the various components areconfigured in order to process the waste food through heating andchopping and to enable airflow through the system as part of therecycling process. The bucket is a double wall bucket allowing heatedair to travel between the inner wall 2126 and outer wall 2128 of thebucket. This double wall bucket eliminates the need for a bucketcompartment within the food recycling unit.

FIG. 22A illustrates an example blade structure 2200 for a foodrecycler. As shown, a cutting blade system 2204 is configured ininterior portion 2222 of the bucket 2202. Various cutting blades areshown as extending from a central column 2216. A top cutting blade 2206,a middle cutting blade 2214 and a lower cutting blade 2212 extend fromthe central column 2216 at different levels. These cutting blades areconfigured to extend from the column 2216 and configured such that thereis vertical space between the respective blades such that cross blademembers 2208, 2210 can be configured and attached to a respectiveattachment components 2218, 2220. The attachment components 2218, 2220are configured on the interior portion 2222 of the bucket 2202. In thismanner, as the blade Assembly 2204 is caused to rotate by the motor andgearing mechanism of the system (not shown), the waste food can beproperty chopped up by the motion of the blade system 2204 and therespective cutting blades with their movement with respect to the crossblade members 2208, 2210.

A bucket can include a blade system 2204. In one aspect, the bladesystem 2204 includes a central column 2216, at least one cutting member2206, 2212, 2214 each extending at a different level from the centralcolumn 2216 and at least one cross blade 2208, 2210 attached to oppositesides (or different sides that are not necessary positioned opposite ofeach other) of the bucket. The at least one cross blade 2208, 2210 canbe configured between two of the at least one cutting member 2206, 2212,2214 as is shown in FIG. 22A. Three cutting members are shown but thedisclosure is broad enough to encompass just one cutting member as wellas more than one as illustrated.

FIG. 22B illustrates example cutting components 2230 for a foodrecycler. A top cutting blade 2208 is shown as being configured abovethe bottom cross blade member 2210. The attachment components 2218, 2210are shown in more detail. FIG. 22C illustrates example cuttingcomponents 2230 for a food recycler. This figure illustrates theremovable nature of the cross blades 2208, 2210 and how they can beremoved from attachment components 2218, 2220.

FIG. 22D illustrates an example blade structure in a cross sectionalview 2200 of a bucket structure 2202 for a food recycler. The bladesystem 2204 includes a central column 2216 with a top plate 2206, amiddle blade 2214 for a lower blade 2212. The vertical spacing of theseblades is illustrated in this figure to allow proper space for the uppercross blade member 2208 and the lower cross blade member 2210 which areattached to the attachment components 2218, 2220 to the sidewall of thebucket 2202.

FIG. 22E illustrates an example blade structure 2240 from a top view fora food recycler. In the earlier described structures, the cross bladecomponents 2208, 2210 each were generally configured on top of oneanother and having the same shape. In this figure, a top blade 2242 isnot configured to be over a bottom blade 2244 but they are configured tobe mirror images of each other such that they do not overlap. Thisdifferent configuration can cause a different kind of chopping operationas the blade system 2204 operates. The various cutting blades 2214,2206, 2212 are also shown in this figure as part of the blade system ofbucket 2246.

FIG. 22F illustrates an example blade structure 2240 from a side viewfor a food recycler. In this view, the top blade 2242 is seen from adifferent angle with respect to the bottom blade 2244. The top cuttingmember 2206 extends from the central column 2216 and is configured totravel above the upper blade 2242. The middle cutting member 2214 isconfigured to travel between the upper blade 2242 and a lower blade2244. The lower cutting member 2212 is configured to rotate from thecentral column 2216 such that it is configured below the lower blade2244.

FIG. 22G illustrates an example blade structure 2260 from a top view fora food recycler. In this structure, a bucket 2262 includes a bladesystem 2204 and a cross blade member 2264 which is attached toattachment components 2266, 2268. The respective cutting blades 2214,2212, 2206 can travel above or below the cutting member 2264. Thecutting member 2264 shown in this figure may also represent stackedcutting members as is shown in FIG. 22D.

FIG. 22H illustrates an example blade structure 2204 from a top view fora food recycler 2270. In this example, the cutting member 2208 is shownin connection with the blade structure 2204 with its cutting arms 2206,2214, 2212. The attachment components 2218, 2220 (shown as 2227 on thedrawing) are also shown. In this top view, the lid 1604 is open and thevarious air flow channels 1634, 1636, 1638 are shown as part of the lidstructure 1604. A top view of the fan component 1616 is shown as well asa top view of the filter component 1618 and the latch 1612.

FIG. 22I illustrates various views of an example blade structure for afood recycler. For example, blade structure 2280 illustrates the centralcolumn 2216 with the top cutting blade 2214, middle cutting blade 2206and lower cutting blade 2212 to each extending from the central column2216. Blade system 2282 illustrates another angle of the central column2216 and the top cutting blade 2214, central cutting blade 2206 andlower cutting blade 2212. This view illustrates the different structuresof the respective cutting blades 2214, 2206, 2212. For example, a topportion of the cutting blade 2214 is angled or curved. A top surface ofcutting blades 2206, 2212 are not curved but are shown as flat. Thebottom portion or bottom surface of each cutting blade 2214, 2206, 2212is shown as being flat. Each cutting blade is shown as curved as well.The curved nature of each blade is illustrated by cutting blade 2284that illustrates a top view of the cutting blades 2214, 2212, 2206.

FIG. 22J illustrates various views of an example blade structure for afood recycler. Feature 2286 represents an example blade structure 2204with a central column 2216, a top cutting member 2206, a middle cuttingmember 2206 and a lower cutting member 2212. The cross sectionalindicator A-A illustrates the cross-sectional view for feature 2288. Aninterior cavity 2290 is shown by way of example for the cutting bladestructure 2204 as well as a cross sectional view of lower cutting member2212 and the top cutting member 2206.

FIG. 23 illustrates various views 2300 of an example blade structure fora food recycler. In one example, a bucket 2302 is shown with a bladestructure 2310. A top cutting member 2312 is shown as well as a middlecutting member 2314 and lower cutting member 2306. Another cuttingmember 2322 is also shown on the lower level. Thus, the blade structure2310 in this example includes four cutting blades extending from thecentral column 2311. While the lower level is shown as having twocutting blades 2322, 2306, the other layers of cutting blades could beconfigured with more than one blade as well. Cross cutting blade 2308 isshown having a different shape from earlier cutting blades 2208, 2210.Similarly, cross cutting blade 2318 is also shown which is of adifferent shape than the earlier cutting blade 2208, 2210. A supportingbracket 2304 is also shown for cross cutting blade 2308.

A top view is shown as feature 2320. The blade structure 2310 is shownas well as cutting blades 2312, 2314, 2306 and 2322. Note the differentshapes of the cross cutting blades. For example, cross cutting blade2318 has a curved shape from point A to point B in a clockwisedirection. At point B, the cross cutting blade 2318 makes a sharp turnback to point C forming a “V” shape with the point B at the vertex.Cross cutting blade 2308 has a similar shape, although the shape doesnot have to be the same. From point X on the cutting blade 2308 to pointY, the cutting blade has a circular shape but it point Y the crosscutting blade 2308 turned sharply towards point C such that the point Ybecomes a vertex. Note that the position of cross cutting blades 2318,2308 are such that point B of cross cutting blade 2310 is configurednear to point X of cross cutting blade 2308. Cross cutting blades 2308,2318 can be configured and other positions on the interior of the bucket2320. Similarly, the shape and extending configuration of each of thecutting blades 2312, 2314, 2306, 2322 can also vary. For example, thecutting blade shown with feature 2320 are generally straight whereasothers disclosed herein are generally curved. The cutting blade could beconfigured such that some or curved and somewhere straight. In oneexample, cutting blade 2322, 2306 generally extend in oppositedirections from the central column 2311. However, they can also extendin different directions as do cutting blades 2312, 2314. Thus, there area number of variations to the example configuration shown in FIG. 23 inthe other figures as well.

Feature 2340 illustrates a bucket having a cutting blade structure 2310with a central column 2311 and a top cutting blade 2312, essentialcutting blade 2314, and a lower cutting blade 2306 as well as asecondary lower cutting blade 2322. Structure 2342 is used to engagewith components of a motor and gearing system to drive the rotation ofthe cutting blade structure 2310. A first cross cutting blade 2308 isshown as well as a portion of a second cross cutting blade structure2318. A supporting bracket 2304 is shown as an example of the kind ofstructure which can be configured on a side wall of the bucket 2340 tosupport in a removable fashion the cross cutting blades 2308 and 2318.

FIG. 24 illustrates a view of another example blade structure in abucket 2400 for a food recycler. In this example, a central column 2402is the support for a first cutting member 2404 and a second cuttingmember 2412. The first and second cutting members 2404, 2412 each areattached along an angled surface 2410 of the column 2402. The first andsecond cutting members 2404, 2412 are each angled at least in part. Afront surface 2414 is shown on member 2412. A back surface 2414 is alsoshown in an upper region or top portion of the member 2412. Member 2404has a back surface 2406 and a top edge 2408. While two cutting membersare shown with their structure in FIG. 24, the system may include one ormore of such members.

In one example, the cutting members 2406, 2412 rotate in acounterclockwise direction such that the first and second cuttingmembers 2404, 2412 pass by wall cutting members 2436, 2416, 2418, 2420.The wall cutting members 2436, 2416, 2418, 2420 are shown by way ofexample in a triangular shape with the base of the triangle at a bottomportion of the bucket 2400. The wall cutting members 2436, 2416, 2418,2420 extend inwardly from an interior surface of the bucket 2400 suchthat the rotation of the cutting members 2412, 2404 causes a distal endof each cutting member 2412, 2404 to pass close to an interior surfaceof each of the wall cutting members 2436, 2416, 2418, 2420. The closeinteraction can trap food waste components and cause them to be cut orcrushed in an efficient manner.

At a bottom portion of the bucket 2400 are base cutting members 2422,2424, 2426, 2428. The base cutting members 2422, 2424, 2426, 2428 extendfrom a base surface 2430, 2432 of the bucket 2400 and provide otherareas where food waste can be cut or processed as the a lower portion ofthe cutting members 2412, 2404 passes over the base cutting members2422, 2424, 2426, 2428. A wall cutting member 2434 is shown at adifferent height than the other wall cutting members 2436, 2416, 2418,2420 showing that the wall cutting members 2436, 2416, 2418, 2420 canhave a varying height. The wall cutting members 2436, 2416, 2418, 2420can also have different configurations such as rectangular, circle,trapezoid, square, or a combination of different shapes.

An attachment component 2440 mechanically connects the central column2402 of the cutting blade system with a gearing component and motorshown in other figures.

FIG. 25 illustrates a view 2500 of another example blade structure for afood recycler. A central column 2502 supports a first cutting member2504 and a second cutting member 2510. The first cutting member 2504 hasa first surface 2506 and a second surface 2508. A connecting member 2516connects the central column 2502 with an upper portion of the firstcutting member 2504. A second connecting member 2518 connects an upperportion of the second cutting member 2510. A surface 2512 is shown ofthe second cutting member 2510. A top surface 2514 is also shown of thesecond cutting member 2510. The first and second cutting members 2504,2510 are primarily angled and connected to the central column 2512 alongas much as the entire column. Wall cutting members 2524, 2526, 2528 areshown by way of example. These can represent thin cutting strips thatextend a distance from an interior surface of the bucket 2500. In oneaspect they are smooth, and another aspect they can be serrated or havegaps or sharp edges configured along the member. A distal end of thefirst or second cutting members 2504, 2510 can be configured to passclosely by each respective wall cutting member 2524, 2526, 2528 in orderto cut food waste as the blade structure rotates. The blade structurecan rotate in a clockwise or counterclockwise manner as with any examplecutting structure disclosed herein.

A bottom portion of the bucket 2500 can have rounded edges and along thebottom additional base cutting members 2522, 2520 are shown by way ofexample. These base cutting members extend from a portion of a basesurface 2530 of the bucket 2500. The base cutting members 2520, 2522 areshown as being serrated or having notches therein and also shown ashaving a thin structure. In one example, a base cutting member 2522 isextended to be connected to a wall cutting member 2524 with one portionbeing serrated or having notches in the other portion not having suchfeatures. This is an example structure which could be duplicated for theother wall and base cutting members as well. The general configurationof the wall cutting members and base cutting members is complementary tosurfaces of the first cutting member 2504 and the second cutting member2510 such that a rotation of the central column 2502 causes the firstand second cutting members 2504, 2510 to rotate and cause waste food tobe chopped up or cut via interaction between the first and secondcutting member 2504, 2510 and the respective wall cutting members andbase cutting members.

In some embodiments, the computer-readable storage devices, mediums,and/or memories can include a cable or wireless signal containing a bitstream and the like. However, when mentioned, non-transitorycomputer-readable storage media expressly exclude media such as energy,carrier signals, electromagnetic waves, and signals per se.

Methods according to the above-described examples can be implementedusing computer-executable instructions that are stored or otherwiseavailable from computer readable media. Such instructions can include,for example, instructions and data that cause or otherwise configure ageneral purpose computer, special purpose computer, or special purposeprocessing device to perform a certain function or group of functions.Portions of computer resources used can be accessible over a network.The computer executable instructions may be, for example, binaries,intermediate format instructions such as assembly language, firmware, orsource code. Examples of computer-readable media that may be used tostore instructions, information used, and/or information created duringmethods according to described examples include magnetic or opticaldisks, flash memory, USB devices provided with non-volatile memory,networked storage devices, and so on.

Devices implementing methods according to these disclosures can includehardware, firmware and/or software, and can take any of a variety ofform factors. Typical examples of such form factors include laptops,smart phones, small form factor personal computers, personal digitalassistants, rackmount devices, standalone devices, and so on.Functionality described herein also can be embodied in peripherals oradd-in cards. Such functionality can also be implemented on a circuitboard among different chips or different processes executing in a singledevice, by way of further example.

The instructions, media for conveying such instructions, computingresources for executing them, and other structures for supporting suchcomputing resources are means for providing the functions described inthese disclosures.

Although a variety of examples and other information was used to explainaspects within the scope of the appended claims, no limitation of theclaims should be implied based on particular features or arrangements insuch examples, as one of ordinary skill would be able to use theseexamples to derive a wide variety of implementations. Further andalthough some subject matter may have been described in languagespecific to examples of structural features and/or method steps, it isto be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended claimsis not necessarily limited to these described features or acts. Forexample, such functionality can be distributed differently or performedin components other than those identified herein. Rather, the describedfeatures and steps are disclosed as examples of components of systemsand methods within the scope of the appended claims. Moreover, claimlanguage reciting “at least one of” a set indicates that one member ofthe set or multiple members of the set satisfy the claim.

It should be understood that features or configurations herein withreference to one embodiment or example can be implemented in, orcombined with, other embodiments or examples herein. That is, terms suchas “embodiment”, “variation”, “aspect”, “example”, “configuration”,“implementation”, “case”, and any other terms which may connote anembodiment, as used herein to describe specific features orconfigurations, are not intended to limit any of the associated featuresor configurations to a specific or separate embodiment or embodiments,and should not be interpreted to suggest that such features orconfigurations cannot be combined with features or configurationsdescribed with reference to other embodiments, variations, aspects,examples, configurations, implementations, cases, and so forth. In otherwords, features described herein with reference to a specific example(e.g., embodiment, variation, aspect, configuration, implementation,case, etc.) can be combined with features described with reference toanother example. Precisely, one of ordinary skill in the art willreadily recognize that the various embodiments or examples describedherein, and their associated features, can be combined with each other.

A phrase such as an “aspect” does not imply that such aspect isessential to the subject technology or that such aspect applies to allconfigurations of the subject technology. A disclosure relating to anaspect may apply to all configurations, or one or more configurations. Aphrase such as an aspect may refer to one or more aspects and viceversa. A phrase such as a “configuration” does not imply that suchconfiguration is essential to the subject technology or that suchconfiguration applies to all configurations of the subject technology. Adisclosure relating to a configuration may apply to all configurations,or one or more configurations. A phrase such as a configuration mayrefer to one or more configurations and vice versa. The word “exemplary”is used herein to mean “serving as an example or illustration.” Anyaspect or design described herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily tobe construed as preferred or advantageous over other aspects or designs.

Moreover, claim language reciting “at least one of” a set indicates thatone member of the set or multiple members of the set satisfy the claim.For example, claim language reciting “at least one of A, B, and C” or“at least one of A, B, or C” means A alone, B alone, C alone, A and Btogether, A and C together, B and C together, or A, B and C together.

Food Recycler Bank of Statements

The following disclosure provides various claims covering conceptsrelated to food recyclers. A corresponding application, ProvisionApplication Ser. No. 62/844,421, filed on May 7, 2019, includes furtherunderlying technology and figures. That application is incorporatedherein by reference in its entirety. The following provides a listing ofvarious claim sets focusing on different aspects of improvements to foodrecyclers. The claims, in connection with the incorporated disclosure,cover various embodiments or examples configurations, methods,algorithms, and structures related to the improvements defined herein.Furthermore, features may be mixed between the various claim sets. Forexample, a volumetric efficiency concept might be combined with anenergy efficient method to provide an improved energy usage in a foodrecycler that also has volumetric efficiency. According, the variousconcepts covered in these claims that can be integrated into differentembodiments.

The statement sets below are organized into different concepts. However,each statement can be combined with any other statement provided below.References to “any previous statement” expressly extend beyond just theparticular subset of statements but refers to any of the statementsbelow.

Food Recycler Having Volumetric Efficiency

Statement 1. A food recycler comprising:

a controller;

a motor in communication with the controller;

a grinding mechanism in mechanical communication with the motor;

a bucket contained within the food recycler that is configured tocontain the grinding mechanism and configured to receive waste food; and

a drying component configured to remove water from the waste food,wherein the food recycler is configured to have an overall appliancevolume of 35 liters or less and wherein the controller, the motor, andthe drying component are configured within the food recycler to enablethe bucket to have a capacity to receive waste food of between 2.51liters to 10 liters, inclusive.

Statement 2. The food recycler of statement 1, wherein the food recyclerhas a height of 395 millimeters or less.

Statement 3. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein thefood recycler has a height of approximately 360 millimeters, a width ofapproximately 270 millimeters and a depth of approximately 310millimeters.

Statement 4. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein themotor is configured to not be below the bucket within the food recycler.

Statement 5. The food recycler of any previous statement, furthercomprising:

a gear box configured below the bucket, and wherein at least a portionof the motor is adjacent to a side of the bucket in the food recycler.

Statement 6. The food recycler of any previous statement, furthercomprising:

a gear box configured below the bucket, and wherein the motor ispositioned to a side and below the bucket in the food recycler.

Statement 7. The food recycler of any previous statement, furthercomprising:

at least one air filter configured to a side of the bucket and near atop portion of the food recycler.

Statement 8. The food recycler of any previous statement, furthercomprising:

a gear box configured below the bucket, wherein the controller isconfigured below the gear box.

Statement 9. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein thedrying component comprises a fan, a filter system, and a heatingcomponent.

Statement 10. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein aratio of a first volume of the bucket relative to a second volumecomprising an overall volume of the food recycler is between 0.0717 and0.2857.

Statement 11. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein afilter system is built into a lid of the food recycler.

Statement 12. A food recycler comprising:

a food recycler case that contains a controller;

a motor in communication with the controller and configured within thefood recycler case;

a bucket contained within the food recycler case that is configured toreceive waste food; and

a drying component configured to remove water from the waste food,wherein the food recycler case has an overall volume and wherein a ratioof a first volume of the bucket relative to the overall volume of thefood recycler case is between 0.07 and 0.29.

Statement 13. The food recycler of statement 12, wherein the overallvolume comprises 30-35 liters.

Statement 14. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein theratio comprises between 0.8 and 0.33.

Statement 15. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein thefirst volume of the bucket comprises 2.51 liters to 10 liters.

Statement 16. The food recycler any previous statement, wherein a heightof the food recycler case is approximately 370 millimeters or less.

Statement 17. The food recycler any previous statement, wherein the foodrecycler is configured to be used on a countertop.

Statement 18. The food recycler of any previous statement, furthercomprising:

a grinding mechanism configured within the bucket and mechanicallyconnected to the motor.

Statement 19. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein theoverall volume comprises a height of approximately 360 millimeters, awidth of approximately 270 mm and a depth of approximately 310 mm.

Statement 20. The food recycler any previous statement, wherein thisfood recycler case includes an opening on a top surface of the foodrecycler and wherein the opening receives a removable lid.

Statement 21. The food recycler of any previous statement, furthercomprising a heating component for heating the waste food and the dryingcomponent for drying the waste food.

Food Recycler Operating with Improved Heating Efficiency

Statement 1. A food recycler comprising:

a controller;

a motor in communication with the controller;

a grinding mechanism in mechanical communication with the motor;

a bucket contained within the food recycler that is configured tocontain the grinding mechanism and configured to receive waste food; and

a heating component, in electrical communication with the controller,the heating component configured to provide heat into the bucket forheating the waste food as part of a food recycling process, wherein thefood recycling process consumes 0.1 kilowatt hours of energy or less per100 grams of waste food.

Statement 2. The food recycler of statement 1, wherein the heatingcomponent comprises at least one of an RF heating element configuredwithin a lid of the food recycler and an induction heating componentheating the bucket.

Statement 3. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein thefood recycling process is controlled by controlling instructionsprovided from a machine learning algorithm or an artificial intelligencealgorithm based on sensor data from one or more sensors which identifiesone or more of a type of waste food in the bucket, a temperature in thebucket, humidity in the bucket and/or density of the waste food.

Statement 4. The food recycler any previous statement, furthercomprising:

a sensor configured to sense a type of waste food is contained withinthe bucket to yield sensor data; and

a computer-readable storage device storing instructions which, whenexecuted by the controller, cause the controller to control one or moreof the motor, the grinding mechanism, and the heating component tomanage a heating and grinding process according to the sensor data.

Statement 5. The food recycler any previous statement, wherein thecomputer-readable storage device stores additional instructions which,when executed by the controller, cause the controller to control one ormore of the motor, the grinding mechanism, and the heating component tomanage a heating and grinding process according to a machine learningalgorithm trained to operate the food recycler to use a determinedamount of energy tailored to different types of waste food in thebucket.

Statement 6. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein theheating component comprises a cavity magnetron.

Statement 7. The food recycler of any previous statement, furthercomprising:

a sensor configured to sense a type of waste food is contained withinthe bucket to yield sensor data;

a communication module configured to transmit the sensor data to anetwork-based server, wherein the network-based server generatescontrolling instructions based on the sensor data; and

a computer-readable storage device storing instructions which, whenexecuted by the controller, cause the controller to control one or moreof the motor, the grinding mechanism, and a heating component to managea heating and grinding process according to controlling instructionsreceived from the network-based service.

Statement 8. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein thecontrolling instructions represent results from a machine learningalgorithm or an artificial intelligence algorithm trained to optimize orimprove energy use by the food recycler according to one or more of atype of waste food, a temperature in the bucket, humidity in the bucketand/or a density of the waste food.

Statement 9. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein theheating component is configured in a top portion of the food recyclerseparate from a lid configured in the food recycler for access to thebucket.

Statement 10. The food recycler of any previous statement, furthercomprising:

an air circulation system that comprises a fan and an exhaust duct thatremoves air from the bucket and passes the air through an air filtersystem to an exhaust port such that the air exits the food recycler intoa surrounding environment.

Statement 11. The food recycler of any previous statement, furthercomprising:

a sensor configured to sense a type of waste food is contained withinthe bucket to yield sensor data; and

a computer-readable storage device storing instructions which, whenexecuted by the controller, cause the controller to control one or moreof the motor, the grinding mechanism, the air circulation system and theheating component to manage a heating and grinding process according tothe sensor data.

Statement 12. The food recycler of any previous statement, furthercomprising:

a drying component configured to remove water from the waste food,

Statement 13. The food recycler of any previous statement, furthercomprising:

a sensor configured to sense a type of waste food is contained withinthe bucket to yield sensor data; and

a computer-readable storage device storing instructions which, whenexecuted by the controller, cause the controller to control one or moreof the motor, the grinding mechanism, the drying component and theheating component to manage a heating and grinding process according tothe sensor data.

Statement 14. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein amachine learning algorithm provides instructions to the controller tomanage how much energy is used in the food recycling process accordingto data generated by a machine learning algorithm trained on types ofwaste food.

Statement 15. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein themachine learning algorithm operates on one of the food recycler or anetwork-based server.

Statement 16. The food recycler of any previous statement, furthercomprising:

a sensor configured to sense a type of waste food is contained withinthe bucket to yield sensor data, wherein the controller receivescontrolling instructions for managing the food recycling process of thefood recycler according to a machine learning algorithm operating on thesensor data.

Statement 17. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein thesensor data identifies a first type of waste food and a second type ofwaste food in the bucket.

Statement 18. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein thesensor data identifies a first percentage of the first type of wastefood within the bucket and a second percentage of the second type ofwaste food within the bucket

Statement 19. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein theair circulation system comprises a variable speed controller for the fanto manage fan usage for heating efficiency.

Statement 20. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein thecontroller provides instructions to the variable speed controller formanaging the fan usage.

Statement 21. A food recycler comprising:

a food recycler case that contains a controller;

a motor in communication with the controller and configured within thefood recycler case;

a bucket contained within the food recycler case that is configured toreceive waste food;

a drying component configured to remove water from the waste food; and

a heating component that heats the bucket for heating the waste food aspart of a food recycling process, wherein the food recycling processconsumes 0.1 kilowatt hours of energy or less per 100 grams of wastefood.

Statement 22. The food recycler of statement 21, wherein the foodrecycler process is managed by the controller according to controllinginstructions provided from a machine learning algorithm trained onmanaging energy usage of a food recycler per cycle and based on a one ormore of a type of waste food being recycled, a temperature, humidity anda density of the waste food.

Statement 23. The food recycler of any previous statement, furthercomprising a fan run by a variable speed fan controller which receivesinstructions from the controller for managing usage of the fan in a foodrecycling process.

Statement 24. The food recycler of any previous statement, furthercomprising insulation configured to reduce heat loss from the bucket.

Statement 25. A food recycling method comprising:

receiving waste food within a bucket contained within a food recyclingappliance;

heating the waste food within the bucket using a heating component;

drying the waste food within the bucket; and

grinding the waste food with a grinding component contained within thefood recycling appliance, wherein the food recycling method consumes 0.1kilowatt hours of energy or less per 100 grams of waste food.

Statement 25. The food recycling method of statement 24, wherein theheating of the waste food, the drying of the waste food and the grindingof the waste food are managed by a controller operating on controllinginstructions generated by an algorithm trained on energy usage by a foodrecycler according to a type of waste food being recycled.

Statement 26. The food recycling method of any previous statement,wherein the food recycling method comprises one or more of: generatingcontrolling instructions from an algorithm trained on energy efficientuse of a food recycler according to a type of waste food, wherein thecontrolling instructions cause a controller to manage an application ofheat via the heating component, manage air flow rates in a ventingsystem, and optimize of one or more of a timing of various stages of thefood recycling method, temperatures applied to the waste food, and acontinuous or non-continuous nature of an application of heat to thewaste food.

Food Recycler Having a Grinding Tool

Statement 1. A grinding component within a food recycler, the grindingcomponent comprising:

a primary column mechanically attached to a motor system;

a first curved arm extending from the primary column, the first curvedarm having a first structure; and

a second curved arm extending from the primary column, the second curvedarm having a second structure, wherein the first structure differs fromthe second structure and wherein the first structure and the secondstructure are configured such that movement of the primary column in afirst direction and then in a second direction causes a grinding by thegrinding component a large food waste item and a hard food waste item.

Statement 2. The grinding component of statement 1, wherein the firstcurved arm extends from the primary column at a first elevation andwherein the first structure comprises a first vertical surface and asecond vertical surface, the first curved arm having a flat top surfacethat is configured to travel beneath a fixed chopping projection fromthe wall of the bucket when the primary column rotates as controlled bythe motor system, and the first curved arm having a sharp edgeprojecting from the flat top surface on a side of the first curved armthat is opposite the first vertical surface.

Statement 3. The grinding component of any previous statement, whereinthe second curved arm extending from the primary column at a secondelevation, wherein the second structure comprises a first curvedvertical surface and a second flat vertical surface, the second curvedarm configured to travel above the fixed chopping projection from thewall of the bucket when the primary column rotates as controlled by themotor system.

Statement 4. The grinding component of any previous statement, whereinthe second curved arm is configured with a plurality of teeth configuredin the first curved vertical surface at a distal end of the secondcurved arm.

Statement 5. The grinding component of any previous statement, furthercomprising: the second curved arm having an upper component and a lowercomponent.

Statement 6. The grinding component of any previous statement, whereinthe upper component of the second curved arm comprises the plurality ofteeth.

Statement 7. The grinding component of any previous statement, whereinthe upper component extends further from the primary column and over thefixed chopping projection and wherein the lower component travelsadjacent to a grinding component vertical side of the grinding componentwhen the primary column rotates as controlled by the motor system.

Statement 8. The grinding component of any previous statement, whereinthe large food waste item comprises a bone, a fruit, a potato, or otherfood item, generally have a diameter of greater than 2 inches.

Statement 9. The grinding component of any previous statement, whereinthe first curved arm has a first end connected to the primary column andhaving a first arm distance between a first end vertical surface at thefirst end and a wall of a bucket containing the grinding component, thefirst curved arm having a second end that is distal from the primarycolumn and having a second arm distance between a second end verticalsurface at the second end and the wall of the bucket, and wherein thefirst arm distance is greater than the second arm distance.

Statement 10. The grinding component of any previous statement, whereinthe first curved vertical surface of the second curved arm has a firstend connected to the primary column and has a first curved arm distancebetween a first end vertical surface at the first end and the wall ofthe bucket containing the grinding component, the second curved armhaving a second end that is distal from the primary column and having asecond curved arm distance between a second end vertical surface at thesecond end and the wall of the bucket.

Statement 11. The grinding component of any previous statement, whereinthe hard food waste item comprise a bone.

Statement 12. The grinding component of any previous statement, whereinthe second curved arm is further configured to have a first portion thattravels above the fixed chopping projection from the wall of the bucketand a second portion that travels adjacent to the fixed choppingprojection when the primary column rotates as controlled by the motorsystem.

Statement 13. A food recycler comprising:

a food recycler case;

a motor system configured within the food recycler case;

a bucket configured within the food recycler case; and

a grinding component configured within the bucket and mechanicallyconnected to the motor system, wherein the grinding component comprises:

-   -   a primary column;    -   a first curved arm extending from the primary column, the first        curved arm having a first structure; and        a second curved arm extending from the primary column, the        second curved arm having a second structure, wherein the first        structure differs from the second structure and wherein the        first structure and the second structure are configured such        that movement of the primary column in a first direction and        then in a second direction causes a grinding by the grinding        component of a combination of large food waste items and hard        food waste items.

Statement 14. The food recycler of statement 13, wherein the firstcurved arm extends from the primary column at a first elevation and hasa first vertical surface and a second vertical surface, the first curvedarm having a flat top surface that is configured to travel beneath afixed chopping projection from the wall of the bucket when the primarycolumn rotates as controlled by the motor system, and the first curvedarm having a sharp edge projecting from the flat top surface on a sideof the first curved arm that is opposite the first vertical surface.

Statement 15. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein thesecond curved arm extends from the primary column at a second elevationand has a first curved vertical surface and a second flat verticalsurface, the second curved arm configured to travel above the fixedchopping projection from the wall of the bucket when the primary columnrotates as controlled by the motor system, and wherein the grindingcomponent further comprises the second curved arm having an uppercomponent and a lower component.

Statement 16. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein thelarge food waste items comprise bones, fruit items, potatoes, or otherfood items having a diameter of at least 2 inches.

Statement 17. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein theupper component extends further from the primary column and over thefixed chopping projection and wherein the lower component travelsadjacent to a chopping component vertical side of the grinding componentwhen the primary column rotates as controlled by the motor system.

Statement 18. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein thehard food waste items comprise bones.

Statement 19. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein thefirst curved arm has a first end connected to the primary column andhaving a first arm distance between a first end vertical surface at thefirst end and a wall of a bucket containing the grinding component, thefirst curved arm having a second end that is distal from the primarycolumn and having a second arm distance between a second end verticalsurface at the second end and the wall of the bucket, and wherein thefirst arm distance is greater than the second arm distance.

Statement 20. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein thefirst curved vertical surface of the second curved arm has a first endconnected to the primary column and has a first curved arm distancebetween a first end vertical surface at the first end and the wall ofthe bucket containing the grinding component, the second curved armhaving a second end that is distal from the primary column and having asecond curved arm distance between a second end vertical surface at thesecond end and the wall of the bucket.

Statement 21. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein thefirst curved arm distance is greater than the second curved armdistance.

Statement 22. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein thesecond curved arm is further configured to have a first portion thattravels above the fixed chopping projection from the wall of the bucketand a second portion that travels adjacent to the fixed choppingprojection when the primary column rotates as controlled by the motorsystem.

Statement 23. A method of recycling waste food, the method comprising:

receiving waste food in a bucket of a food recycling unit;

chopping the waste food in the bucket using a chopping component as partof a food recycling process, wherein the chopping comprises rotating thechopping component in a first direction as part of the food recyclingprocess and in a second direction as part of the food recycling process,and wherein the chopping component comprises:

-   -   a primary column;    -   a first curved arm extending from the primary column, the first        curved arm having a first structure; and    -   a second curved arm extending from the primary column, the        second curved arm having a second structure, wherein the first        structure differs from the second structure and wherein the        first structure and the second structure are configured such        that movement of the primary column in a first direction and        then in a second direction causes a grinding by the grinding        component of large food waste items and hard food waste items.

Statement 24. The method of recycling waste food of statement 23,wherein the first curved arm extends from the primary column at a firstelevation and wherein the first structure comprises a first verticalsurface and a second vertical surface, the first curved arm having aflat top surface that is configured to travel beneath a fixed choppingprojection from the wall of the bucket when the primary column rotatesas controlled by the motor system, and the first curved arm having asharp edge projecting from the flat top surface on a side of the firstcurved arm that is opposite the first vertical surface.

Statement 25. The method of recycling waste food of any previousstatement, wherein the second curved arm extending from the primarycolumn at a second elevation, wherein the second structure comprises afirst curved vertical surface and a second flat vertical surface, thesecond curved arm configured to travel above the fixed choppingprojection from the wall of the bucket when the primary column rotatesas controlled by the motor system.

Statement 26. The method of any previous statement, wherein the largefood waste items comprises bones having a diameter of at least 2 inches.

Food Recycler Having an RF Component

Statement 1. A food recycler comprising:

a food recycler case;

a control system configured within the food recycler case;

a bucket configured within the food recycler case and for receivingwaste food; and

an RF component configured within the food recycler case and incommunication with the control system, wherein the RF componenttransmits microwaves into the bucket as part of a food recyclingprocess.

Statement 2. The food recycler of statement 1, further comprising aheating plate configured below the bucket and within the food recyclercase.

Statement 3. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein the RFcomponent is configured within a lid of the food recycler that providesaccess to the bucket.

Statement 4. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein thelid comprises an electro-mechanical connection to the control system.

Statement 5. The food recycler of any previous statement, furthercomprising shielding to prevent microwave leaking.

Statement 6. The food recycler any previous statement, furthercomprising a wave guide which receives microwaves from the RF componentand which guides the microwaves into the bucket.

Statement 7. The food recycler any previous statement, wherein the RFcomponent comprises a magnetron.

Statement 8. The food recycler any previous statement, furthercomprising a heat plate which communicates heat to the bucket, whereinthe waste food is heated by a combination of heat from the heat plateand heat from microwaves generated by the RF component.

Statement 9. The food recycler any previous statement, wherein the foodrecycling process comprises heating the waste food at least in partusing microwaves from the RF component, without burning the food.

Statement 10. The food recycler any previous statement, furthercomprising an air circulation system which comprises a fan for drawingair from the bucket and communicating the air through a filtering systemas part of the food recycling process.

Statement 11. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein thefan is controlled by a variable speed fan controller.

Statement 12. A method of heating waste food in a food recyclingappliance, the method comprising:

receiving waste food in a bucket of the food recycling appliance;

receiving an indication from a user of the food recycling appliance tobegin a food recycling process;

heating, as directed by a control system, the waste food by an RFcomponent to yield heated waste food; and

grinding the heated waste food to yield recycled food.

Statement 13. The method of statement 12, further comprising:

initiating a further heating of the waste food via a heat plate inconnection with the bucket to yield the heated waste food.

Statement 14. The method of any previous statement, further comprising:

retrieving air from the bucket via an air circulation system;

Statement 15. The method of any previous statement, wherein the aircirculation system further comprises filters through which air flows.

Statement 16. The method of any previous statement, when the RFcomponent further comprises a wave guide configured to control anintroduction of microwaves into the bucket.

Statement 17. The method of any previous statement, wherein the waveguide further controls the introduction of microwaves into the bucketsuch that the waste food will be evenly heated.

Statement 18. The method of any previous statement, further comprising:

grinding the heated waste food utilizing a grinding component inmechanical communication with a motor system of the food recyclingappliance.

Statement 19. The method of any previous statement, wherein the RFcomponent is configured within a lid of the food recycling appliance.

Statement 20. The method of any previous statement, wherein the lidcomprises an electro-mechanical connection to the control system.

Statement 21. The method of any previous statement, where the heatingfurther comprises using a heat plate which communicates heat to thebucket, wherein the waste food is heated by a combination of heat fromthe heat plate and heat from microwaves generated by the RF component.

Statement 22. The method of any previous statement, further comprising

retrieving air from the bucket via an air circulation system whichincludes a fan for drawing air from the bucket and communicating the airthrough a filtering system as part of the food recycling process.

Statement 23. The method of any previous statement, wherein the aircirculation system comprises a fan having a variable speed controllerfor efficiently controlling air flow.

An Internet of Things Device as a Food Recycler

Statement 1. A food recycler comprising:

a controller;

a motor in communication with the controller;

a grinding mechanism in mechanical communication with the motor;

a bucket contained within the food recycler that is configured tocontain the grinding mechanism and configured to receive waste food;

a drying component configured to dehydrate the waste food in the bucket;

a sensor component that senses a characteristic of waste food beingrecycled in the food recycler to yield sensor data; and

a communication component connected to the controller which communicateswith an external device, wherein the sensor data is transmitted to theexternal device via the communication component and wherein the sensordata characterizes the waste food.

Statement 2. The food recycler of statement 1, wherein the sensorcomponent further comprises a one or more of a torque sensor associatedwith the motor and/or an air velocity sensor.

Statement 3. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein thesensor comprises one or more of a humidity sensor, a temperature sensor,a pressure sensor, a microphone, a camera, a scale, and an infraredsensor.

Statement 4. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein thefood recycler is configured to have an overall appliance volume of 35liters or less and wherein the controller, a motor, and a dryingcomponent are configured within the food recycler to enable a bucket tohave a capacity to receive the waste food of between 2.51 liters to 10liters.

Statement 5. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein thefood recycler has a height of 395 millimeters or less.

Statement 6. The food recycler of any previous statement, furthercomprising:

a user interface that enables a user to provide data regarding the wastefood.

Statement 7. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein theuser interface comprises a microphone that receives audible input fromthe user to describe the waste food.

Statement 8. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein thecommunication component transmits a status of a subsystem of the foodrecycler to the external device.

Statement 9. A method comprising:

receiving, over a network, at a first device and from a food recyclingappliance, sensor data obtained from a sensor component configuredwithin the food recycling appliance, the sensor component obtaining dataassociated with characteristics of waste food placed within a bucket ofthe food recycling appliance;

analyzing the sensor data to determine a characteristic of the wastefood, to yield an analysis; and

based on the analysis, communicating food-related data to a seconddevice associated with a user of the food recycling appliance.

Statement 10. The method of statement 9, wherein the sensor componentcomprises one or more of a humidity sensor, a temperature sensor, apressure sensor, a microphone, a camera, a scale, a torque sensor, anair velocity sensor and an infrared sensor.

Statement 11. The method of any previous statement, wherein the sensordata identifies a first portion of a first type of food within the wastefood and a second portion of a second type of food within the wastefood.

Statement 12. The method of any previous statement, wherein the sensordata relates to one or more of an amount of humidity withdrawn from thewaste food, a temperature of the waste food, a weight of the waste food,and a type of the waste food.

Statement 13. The method of any previous statement, further comprisingreceiving user input data received at the food recycling appliance, theuser input data characterizing the waste food.

Statement 14. The method of any previous statement, whereincommunicating the food-related data to the device associated with theuser of the food recycling appliance further comprises indicating arecipe to the device based on the sensor data.

Statement 15. The method of any previous statement, whereincommunicating the food-related data to the device associated with theuser of the food recycling appliance further comprises indicating arecipe to the device based on the sensor data.

Statement 16. A method comprising:

obtaining, via a sensor component configured within a food recyclingappliance, sensor data, the sensor component obtaining data associatedwith characteristics of waste food placed within a bucket of the foodrecycling appliance;

transmitting, over a network and to an external device, the sensor data,wherein the external device analyzes the sensor data to determine acharacteristic of the waste food to yield an analysis and communicatesthe analysis to a second device associated with a user of the foodrecycling appliance.

Statement 17. The method of statement 16, wherein the sensor componentcomprises one or more of a humidity sensor, a temperature sensor, apressure sensor, a microphone, a camera, a scale, a torque sensor, anair velocity sensor and an infrared sensor.

A Food Recycler Having Odour Control

Statement 1. A food recycler comprising:

a receiving cavity which is configured to receive a replaceable filterbag, wherein the replaceable filter bag contains an odor controlmaterial and wherein the replaceable filter bag is made from anon-plastic and flexible material; and

an air circulation system configured to circulate air from a bucketthrough the receiving cavity containing the replaceable filter bag.

Statement 2. The food recycler of statement 1, wherein the non-plasticand flexible material comprises a compostable and biodegradablematerial.

Statement 3. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein thereplaceable filter bag is shaped to fit within the receiving cavity.

Statement 4. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein thereplaceable filter bag is shaped like a tea bag.

Statement 5. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein theair circulation system is further configured to pass air received fromthe bucket through an air channel to an intake opening in the foodrecycler, through the receiving cavity containing the replaceable filterbag, and out an exit opening in the food recycler.

Statement 6. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein theair, as it travels through the receiving cavity containing thereplaceable filter bag, moves in one or more of a spiral configuration,a circular configuration, a maze-shaped configuration, and amulti-layered configuration.

Statement 7. The food recycler any previous statement, wherein the odorcontrol material comprises an active carbon.

Statement 8. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein thereplaceable filter bag comprises one or more of an air permeable outermesh that contains an activated carbon for absorbing odor from the air,is made of a compostable material, is made from a non-compostablematerial, is recyclable, and/or is proccessable in the food recycler.

Statement 9. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein thereceiving cavity is one or more of accessible from a side wall of thefood recycler, configured to receive two replaceable filter bags andaccessible from a lid configured on a top portion of the food recycler.

Statement 10. The food recycler of any previous statement, furthercomprising:

a controller;

a motor in communication with the controller;

a grinding mechanism in mechanical communication with the motor; and

a bucket contained within the food recycler that is configured tocontain the grinding mechanism and configured to receive waste food.

Statement 11. A method comprising:

receiving waste food in a bucket contained within a food recyclingappliance;

receiving a replaceable filter bag in a receiving cavity of the foodrecycling appliance, wherein the replaceable filter bag contains an odorcontrol material and wherein the replaceable filter bag is made from anon-plastic and flexible material;

initiating a food recycling process to recycle the waste food;

extracting moisture from the waste food to yield humid air; and

channeling the humid air through an air duct through the receivingcavity containing the replaceable filter bag.

Statement 12. The method of statement 11, wherein the replaceable filterbag has a shaped configured to fit within the receiving cavity.

Statement 13. The method of any previous statement, wherein thenon-plastic and flexible material comprises one or more of a compostableand biodegradable material, a recyclable material and/or a material thatcan be processed in the food recycler.

Statement 14. The method of any previous statement, wherein thereplaceable filter bag is one of ring-shaped, circular, square, tea-bagshaped or configured to fit within the receiving cavity contained withthe food recycler.

Statement 15. The method of any previous statement, wherein an aircirculation system is configured to pass air received from the bucketthrough an air channel to an intake opening in the food recycler,through the receiving cavity containing the replaceable filter bag, andout an exit opening in the food recycler.

Statement 16. The method of any previous statement, wherein the air, asit travels through the receiving cavity containing the replaceablefilter bag, moves in one or more of a spiral configuration, a circularconfiguration, a maze-shaped configuration, and a multi-layeredconfiguration.

Statement 17. The method of any previous statement, wherein thereplaceable filter bag comprises an air permeable outer mesh thatcontains an active carbon for absorbing odor from air.

Statement 18. The method of any previous statement, wherein thereceiving cavity is accessible from a side wall of the food recyclingappliance.

Statement 19. The method of any previous statement, wherein thereceiving cavity is configured to receive two replaceable filter bags.

Statement 20. A filter bag package configured for a food recycler, thefilter bag package comprising:

an outer filter bag made from a non-plastic and flexible material; and

an odor control material contained within the outer filter bag, whereinthe filter bag package is replaceable and is configured to be placedwithin a food recycler comprising:

a controller;

a motor in communication with the controller;

a grinding mechanism in mechanical communication with the motor;

a bucket contained within the food recycler that is configured tocontain the grinding mechanism and configured to receive waste food;

a receiving cavity which is configured to receive the filter bagpackage; and

an air circulation system configured to circulate air from the bucketthrough the receiving cavity containing the filter bag package.

Statement 21. The filter bag package of statement 20, wherein thenon-plastic and flexible material is compostable and biodegradable.

A Food Recycler Having Odor Control in a Lid Component

Statement 1. A food recycler comprising:

a controller;

a motor in communication with the controller;

a grinding mechanism in mechanical communication with the motor;

a bucket contained within the food recycler that is configured tocontain the grinding mechanism and configured to receive waste food;

a sensing component to provide data on the food recycling process;

a drying component configured to dehydrate the food waste in the bucketincluding an air circulation system configured to circulate air from thebucket through a receiving cavity containing a filter bag;

a lid that mounts food recycler and covers a cavity containing thebucket, the lid having a receiving cavity which is configured to receivethe replaceable filter bag; and

an air circulation system configured to circulate air from the bucketthrough the receiving cavity containing the replaceable filter bag.

Statement 2. The food recycler of statement 1, wherein the replaceablefilter bag contains an odor control material and wherein the replaceablefilter bag is made from a compostable and biodegradable material.

Statement 3. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein thefood recycler has one or more of a height of approximately 380millimeters, a width of approximately 270 millimeters and a depth ofapproximately 310 millimeters.

Statement 4. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein thereplaceable filter bag is one of ring-shaped, circular or configured tofit within the receiving cavity contained with the lid.

Statement 5. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein theair circulation system is further configured to pass air received fromthe bucket through an air channel to an intake opening in the lid,through the receiving cavity containing the replaceable filter bag, andout an exit opening in the lid.

Statement 6. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein theair, as it travels through the receiving cavity containing thereplaceable filter bag, moves in one or more of a spiral configuration,a circular configuration, a maze-shaped configuration, and amulti-layered configuration.

Statement 7. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein thereplaceable filter bag comprises an air permeable outer mesh thatcontains an active carbon for absorbing odor from the air.

Statement 8. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein thereceiving cavity is accessible from a side wall of the lid.

Statement 9. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein thereceiving cavity is configured to receive two replaceable filter bags.

Statement 10. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein thelid is configured in one of a top portion of the food recycler or a sidewall of the food recycler.

Statement 11. A method comprising:

receiving waste food in a bucket contained within a food recyclingappliance;

receiving a replaceable filter bag in a receiving cavity of a lidconfigured in the food recycling appliance;

initiating a food recycling process to recycle the waste food;

extracting moisture from the waste food to yield humid air; and

channeling the humid air through an air duct through the receivingcavity containing the replaceable filter bag.

Statement 12. The method of statement 11, wherein the replaceable filterbag contains an odor control material and wherein the replaceable filterbag is made from a compostable and biodegradable material.

Statement 13. The method of any previous statement, wherein the foodrecycling appliance has one or more of a height of approximately 380millimeters, a width of approximately 270 millimeters and a depth ofapproximately 310 millimeters.

Statement 14. The method of any previous statement, wherein thereplaceable filter bag is one of ring-shaped, circular, square orconfigured to fit within the receiving cavity contained with the lid ofthe food recycler appliance.

Statement 15. The method of any previous statement, wherein an aircirculation system is configured to pass air received from the bucketthrough an air channel to an intake opening in the lid, through thereceiving cavity containing the replaceable filter bag, and out an exitopening in the lid.

Statement 16. The method of any previous statement, wherein the air, asit travels through the receiving cavity containing the replaceablefilter bag, moves in one or more of a spiral configuration, a circularconfiguration, a maze-shaped configuration, and a multi-layeredconfiguration.

Statement 17. The method of any previous statement, wherein thereplaceable filter bag comprises an air permeable outer mesh thatcontains an active carbon for absorbing odor from air.

Statement 18. The method of any previous statement, wherein thereceiving cavity is accessible from a side wall of the lid of the foodrecycling appliance.

Statement 19. The method of any previous statement, wherein thereceiving cavity is configured to receive two replaceable filter bags.

Statement 20. The method of any previous statement, wherein the lid isconfigured in one of a top portion of the food recycler and a side wallof the food recycler.

Built-In Food Recycling Appliance

Statement 1. A food recycler configuration within a cabinet, the foodrecycler comprising:

a removable bucket contained within the food recycler that is configuredto contain a grinding mechanism and configured to receive waste food;

a drying component configured in the food recycler to remove water fromthe waste food; and

a venting system that vents humidity generated by the food recycler toone of an outside of the cabinet via a port or pipe, wherein the foodrecycler is mounted in the cabinet to an electrical receptacle and thedrying component vents air from the cabinet via a port or pipe and theremovable bucket is accessible by a user.

Statement 2. The food recycler of statement 1, wherein the port or pipevents the air to an area outside a building containing the cabinet, to adrainage system or to a plumbing system.

Statement 3. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein thefood recycler is further configured with a sliding mechanism to enablethe food recycler to slide out of the cabinet.

Statement 4. The food recycler of any previous statement, whereinsliding the food recycler out of the cabinet enables access by the userto the bucket for inputting the waste food.

Statement 5. The food recycler of any previous statement, furthercomprising:

an extension mechanism that enable a user to move the food recycler outfrom underneath the counter-top of the cabinet.

Statement 6. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein theventing system further comprises:

a flexible port which enables the venting system to continue to venthumidity from the food recycler.

Statement 7. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein, theventing system further comprises:

tubing which disconnects while the food recycler is moved out fromunderneath a counter-top of the cabinet and reconnects when the foodrecycler is moved back underneath the counter-top.

Statement 8. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein thedrying component comprises a fan, a filter system, and a heatingcomponent, wherein the filter system is one of configured within thefood recycler or is mounted in the cabinet separate from the foodrecycler.

Statement 9. The food recycler any previous statement, wherein theremovable bucket is attached to an underside of a counter of thecabinet.

Statement 10. The food recycler any previous statement, wherein acounter-top in the cabinet comprises an opening through which the foodrecycler can be accessed for receiving waste food.

Statement 11. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein thefood recycler further comprises:

a controller, wherein the controller is positioned independently of thebucket and not under a counter-top of the cabinet.

Statement 12. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein thefood recycler further comprises:

a controller; and

a motor in communication with the controller, wherein one or more of thecontroller, the motor and the drying component are positionedindependent of a location of the bucket under the counter.

Statement 13. A method comprising:

receiving food waste at a food recycler that is configured within acabinet, wherein the food recycler comprises:

a controller;

a motor in communication with the controller;

a grinding mechanism in mechanical communication with the motor;

a bucket contained within the food recycler that is configured tocontain the grinding mechanism and configured to receive waste food; and

-   -   a drying component configured to remove water from the waste        food;    -   processing the food waste in the food recycler to generate        humidity; and

transmitting the humidity through a port that vents the humidity to oneof an exterior area of a building containing the cabinet, into ambientair in a room containing the cabinet and in the building, a drainagesystem, a duct, a plumbing system in the building.

Statement 14. The method of statement 13, wherein receiving the foodwaste at the food recycler that is configured within a cabinet furthercomprises:

enabling the food recycler to slide out from the cabinet to provideaccess to the bucket for receiving the food waste.

Statement 15. The method of any previous statement, wherein the ventingsystem further comprises a flexible tube that enables the food recyclerto slide out from the cabinet.

Statement 16. The method of any previous statement, wherein the bucketof the food recycler is mounted under a counter-top of the cabinet.

Statement 17. The method of any previous statement, further comprising:

extending the food recycler out from underneath a counter-top of thecabinet to receive the waste food.

Statement 18. The method of any previous statement, wherein, when thefood recycler is moved out from underneath the counter-top, the ventingsystem has tubing which is flexible and enables the vending system tocontinue to vent humidity from the food recycler.

Statement 19. The method of any previous statement, wherein, when thefood recycler is moved out from underneath the counter-top, the ventingsystem has tubing which disconnects while the food recycler is moved outfrom underneath the counter-top and reconnects when the food recycler ismoved back underneath the counter-top.

Statement 20. The method of any previous statement, wherein the dryingcomponent comprises a fan, a filter system, and a heating component.

Statement 21. The method any previous statement, wherein the port ventsair outside the cabinet but within a building containing the cabinetthrough a piping system.

Statement 22. The method any previous statement, wherein receiving thewaste food in the food recycler is performed through an opening in acounter-top.

Statement 23. The method of any previous statement, wherein the foodrecycler is accessible to a user through a door in the cabinet.

Food Cycler

Statement 1. A food recycler, comprising:

a housing;

a pot vessel comprising at least a first feature that, as a result ofbeing detected, indicate a first request to execute an infusion cycleusing first contents within the pot vessel;

a bucket vessel comprising at least a second feature that, as a resultof being detected, indicate a second request to execute a desiccationcycle using second contents within the bucket vessel;

an interior wall that forms a cavity within the housing and configuredto receive the pot vessel and the bucket vessel;

a controller within the housing, the controller comprising:

a set of indicators; and

at least one user interface component usable to at least configure theinfusion cycle or the desiccation cycle, the at least one user interfacecomponent being accessible from an exterior of the housing;

a set of sensors positioned within the interior wall, the set of sensorsin electrical communication with the controller and configured to detectpresence of the pot vessel or the bucket vessel within the cavity;

a motor in electrical communication with the controller and within thehousing; and

a set of components in mechanical communication with the motor andwithin the housing, the set of components configured to perform theinfusion cycle in response to the first request or the desiccation cyclein response to the second request.

Statement 2. The food recycler of statement 1, wherein the pot vessel isconstructed from a ferromagnetic material to allow generation of heatwithin the pot vessel in an electromagnetic field.

Statement 3. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein theset of components include a vacuum and purge air pump that produce anegative pressure within the bucket vessel during the desiccation cycleand remove moisture laden air resulting from the desiccation cycle.

Statement 4. The food recycler of any previous statement, furthercomprising a Hall effect sensor in electrical communication with thecontroller, the Hall effect sensor configured to detect a jam within thefood recycler resulting from the desiccation cycle or the infusioncycle.

Statement 5. The food recycler of any previous statement, furthercomprising an RF component in electrical communication with thecontroller, wherein the controller utilizes the RF component to controla temperature within the pot vessel during the infusion cycle and withinthe bucket vessel during the desiccation cycle.

Statement 6. The food recycler of any previous statement, furthercomprising a separator configured to separate waste and fats from aninfused solution within the pot vessel resulting from the infusioncycle.

Statement 7. The food recycler of any previous statement, furthercomprising a humidity sensor in electrical communication with thecontroller, wherein the controller obtains inputs from the humiditysensor to determine completion of the desiccation cycle.

Statement 8. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein theinterior wall comprises a thermal layer and an acoustic insulation layerto reduce heat transfer from the pot vessel and the bucket vessel and toreduce acoustic transmission resulting from the infusion cycle and thedesiccation cycle.

Statement 9. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein thebucket vessel includes a rotor that, when in mechanical communicationwith the motor, pulverizes the second contents in the bucket vessel andgenerates a mix flow of the second contents in the bucket vessel duringthe desiccation cycle.

Statement 10. The food recycler of any previous statement, the set ofsensors comprise:

a first sensor positioned on a first side of the interior wall, thefirst sensor configured to detect the at least first feature of the potvessel; and

a second sensor positioned on a second side of the interior wall, thesecond sensor configured to detect the at least second feature of thebucket vessel.

Statement 11. A method, comprising:

detecting, within a food recycler, insertion of a vessel;

determining, based on one or more features of the vessel, a cycle to beperformed to convert contents within the vessel into a product;

identifying the contents within the vessel;

initiating, based on the contents within the vessel, one or morecomponents of the food recycler to perform the cycle;

detecting completion of the cycle; and

as a result of the completion of the cycle, indicating the completion ofthe cycle and providing, within the vessel, the product resulting fromthe cycle.

Statement 12. The method of statement 11, wherein the cycle is one of adesiccation cycle to generate granular material and an infusion cycle togenerate an edible food solution.

Statement 13. The method of any previous statement, wherein:

the one or more features of the vessel correspond to the desiccationcycle; and

the method further comprises identifying, based on the one or morefeatures of the vessel, that the desiccation cycle is to be performed.

Statement 14. The method of any previous statement, wherein:

the one or more features of the vessel correspond to the infusion cycle;and

the method further comprises identifying, based on the one or morefeatures of the vessel, that the infusion cycle is to be performed.

Statement 15. The method of any previous statement, further comprising:

determining a volume and water content of the contents within thevessel; and

determining, based on the contents, the volume of the contents, and thewater content of the contents, a duration of the cycle.

Statement 16. The method of any previous statement, further comprisingmaintaining the product resulting from the cycle at a specifictemperature.

Statement 17. The method of any previous statement, further comprising:

detecting, within the vessel, a jam;

stopping the one or more components of the food recycler;

initiating a rotor within the vessel in a particular direction toeliminate the jam;

detecting, within the vessel, that the jam has been cleared; and

re-initiating the one or more components of the food recycler to performthe cycle.

Statement 18. The method of any previous statement, further comprising:

obtaining, via a user interface of the food recycler, one or moreparameters of the cycle for converting the contents of the vessel in tothe product; and

identifying, based on the one or more parameters, the one or morecomponents of the food recycler to perform the cycle in accordance withthe one or more parameters.

Statement 19. The method of any previous statement, further comprising:

monitoring, during performance of the cycle, agitation of the contents,heat application within the vessel, and a temperature within the vesselto generate a temperature hysteresis range; and

maintaining, based on the temperature hysteresis range, a cycletemperature within the vessel to produce the product.

Statement 20. The method of any previous statement, further comprisingmonitoring humidity within the vessel to detect the completion of thecycle, whereby the cycle is complete as a result of the humidity withinthe vessel being below a minimum threshold value.

Updated Food Cycler

Statement 1. A food recycler comprising:

a base component comprising a base rim, at least one air intake opening,a heater, a gearbox, and a motor component having a motor and a topsurface, the motor being in mechanical communication with the gearbox;

an airflow component configured to be positioned on the top surface ofthe motor component;

a fan component comprising a fan and positioned on an intake port of theairflow component;

a filter component having an air filter configured therein, the filtercomponent configured on an output port of the airflow component;

a bucket receptacle configured on the gearbox of the base component andconfigured to receive a bucket, wherein the fan component and the filtercomponent are configured adjacent to an upper portion of the bucketreceptacle;

a casing having a lower rim complimentary to the base rim and configuredsuch that the casing sits on the base rim, the casing having a firstinterior volume complimentary to the bucket receptacle, a secondinterior volume complimentary to the fan module, and a third interiorvolume complimentary to the air filter component;

a control switch configured in the casing;

a lid configured with a hinge to the casing such that access to thebucket receptacle is provided by opening the lid; and

a controller configured to be in electrical communication with themotor, the fan and the control switch for operating the food recycler.

Statement 2. The food recycler of statement 1, wherein the motor isconfigured in the base component to be at least in part to a side of alower portion of the bucket receptacle.

Statement 3. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein thefilter component receives air and passes the air through the air filter.

Statement 4. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein thelid is further configured to enable air to flow from a top portion ofthe bucket receptacle through the lid and down to the fan component.

Statement 5. The food recycler of any previous statement, furthercomprising a bucket configured within the bucket receptacle.

Statement 6. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein uponan operation of the fan, air is drawn into the casing via the at leastone air intake opening in the base module, up an interior wall of thebucket receptacle, into the lid, down through the fan module, throughthe airflow component, and up through the filter component.

Statement 7. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein theair flows from the filter component into the lid and wherein the lidfurther includes an exhaust opening in a top of the lid.

Statement 8. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein theexhaust opening configured on the top of the lid and within 2 cm of thehinge.

Statement 9. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein theair flows from the filter component to an exhaust opening on a rearsurface of the food recycler, the exhaust opening being below the hinge.

Statement 10. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein aratio of a first volume of the bucket relative to a second volumecomprising an overall volume of the food recycler is between 0.0717 and0.2857.

Statement 11. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein theair flows from the filter component to an exhaust opening on a rearsurface of the lid of the food recycler, the exhaust opening being abovethe hinge.

Statement 12. The food recycler of any previous statement, furthercomprising:

a tilted control switch configured on a front surface of the casing; and

a latching mechanism configured to open the lid upon a user interactingwith the latching mechanism, wherein the latching mechanism isconfigured above and adjacent to the tilted control switch.

Statement 13. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein thetilted control switch has a front surface configured in a first planethat is at a 5-30 degree angle relative to a second plane defined by thefront surface of the casing.

Statement 14. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein a topedge of the tilted control switch is less than 2 mm from a bottomportion of the latching mechanism.

Statement 15. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein thecasing comprises a rear surface that is configured at an angle andwherein the rear surface comprises an exhaust opening.

Statement 16. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein theangle is an angle defined between a vertical plane and a rear surfaceplane associated with the rear surface of the food recycler, and whereinthe angle comprises between and including 2 degrees and 30 degrees.

Statement 17. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein theexhaust opening in the rear surface of the casing is configured at a topportion of the rear surface.

Statement 18. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein thebucket further comprises a blade system, the blade system comprising:

a central column;

at least one cutting member each extending at a different level from thecentral column; and

at least one cross blade attached to opposite sides of the bucket, theat least one cross blade configured between two of the at least onecutting member.

Statement 19. The food recycler of claim 18, wherein the blade systemcomprises a first cross blade and a second cross blade.

Food Cycler Switch and Latch Mechanism

Statement 1. A food recycler comprising:

a casing having a casing front surface and a lid;

a motor configured in mechanical communication with a gearbox, the motorconfigured within the casing;

a fan that draws air through the casing and into the lid;

a filter system that filters the air and communicates, via operation ofthe fan, the air to an exhaust opening;

a control system that controls the motor and the fan;

a bucket configured in the casing that receives food waste forrecycling;

a tilted switch in communication with the control system for turning thefood recycler on and off, wherein the tilted switch is configured in thecasing front surface of the food recycler and has a switch front surfaceconfigured in a first plane that is 5-30 degrees relative to a secondplane defined by the casing front surface; and

a latch positioned adjacent to and above the tilted switch, wherein thelatch is configured to open the lid upon a user operating the latch.

Statement 2. The food recycler of statement 1, wherein upon a userdepressing the tilted switch, when the food recycler is in an off mode,the control system turns the food recycler to an on mode, and when thefood recycler is in the on mode, the control system turns the foodrecycler to the off mode.

Statement 3. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein thelatch is adjacent to the tilted switch.

Statement 4. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein thetilted switch is configured at an upper portion of the casing frontsurface of the food recycler.

Statement 5. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein thelatch is in mechanical communication with a flange on a lower surface ofthe lid, such that upon interacting with the latch, the latch disengageswith the flange and enables the lid to open.

Statement 6. A food recycler comprising:

a casing having a casing front surface and a lid;

a motor configured in mechanical communication with a gearbox, the motorconfigured within the casing;

a tilted switch in communication with a control system for turning thefood recycler on and off, wherein the tilted switch is configured in thecasing front surface of the food recycler and has a switch front surfaceconfigured in a first plane that is 5-30 degrees relative to a secondplane defined by the casing front surface; and

a latch positioned adjacent to and above the tilted switch, wherein thelatch is configured to open the lid upon a user operating the latch.

Statement 7. The food recycler of statement 6, further comprising:

a fan that draws air through the casing and into the lid.

Statement 8. The food recycler of any previous statement, furthercomprising:

a filter system that filters the air and communicates, via operation ofthe fan, the air to an exhaust opening.

Statement 9. The food recycler of any previous statement, furthercomprising:

a control system that controls the motor and the fan.

Statement 10. The food recycler of any previous statement, furthercomprising:

a bucket configured in the casing that receives food waste forrecycling.

Foodcycler Airflow Method

Statement 1. A method of recycling food in a food recycler, the methodcomprising:

drawing air, via a fan, through an air intake opening at a base of thefood recycler according to a first air path;

drawing the air, via the fan, from the first air path across a motorcompartment according to a second air path;

drawing the air, via the fan, from the second air path across a gearboxand up through a channel between a bucket and a bucket receptacle of thefood recycler according to a third air path;

drawing the air, via the fan, from the third air path and into thebucket according to a fourth air path;

drawing the air, via the fan, from the fourth air path out of the bucketand into a lid of the food recycler according to a fifth air path;

drawing the air, via the fan, from the fifth air path to a filtercomponent according to a sixth air path; and

drawing the air, via the fan, from the sixth air path to away from thefood recycler according to a seventh air path.

Statement 2. The method of recycling food in the food recycler ofstatement 1, wherein drawing the air, from the fifth air path to afilter component according to a sixth air path further comprises drawingthe air through the fan, wherein the fan is configured within a fancomponent.

Statement 3. The method of recycling food in the food recycler of anyprevious statement, wherein the fan is configured between the fifth airpath and the sixth air path.

Statement 4. The method of recycling food in the food recycler of anyprevious statement, wherein the seventh air path is configured throughthe lid.

Statement 5. The method of recycling food in the food recycler of anyprevious statement, wherein air is exhausted out the food recyclerthrough an air vent in the top of the lid according to the seventh airpath.

Statement 6. The method of recycling food in the food recycler of anyprevious statement, wherein air is exhausted out the food recyclerthrough an air vent in a top portion of a rear surface of the foodrecycler according to the seventh air path.

Statement 7. The method of recycling food in the food recycler of anyprevious statement, wherein the rear-surface of the food recycler istilted inward to enable space for the air to be exhausted out the rearsurface when the food recycler is placed against a wall.

Statement 8. A method of recycling food in a food recycler, wherein thefood recycler comprises a an air intake vent, a motor, a gearbox, abucket container, a bucket, a lid, a fan, a filter and an exhaust vent,the method comprising drawing the air through various components of thefood recycler using the fan according to a method comprising:

drawing air through the air intake vent to yield first air;

drawing the first air across the motor to yield second air;

drawing the second air across a gearbox and up through a channel betweenthe bucket and the bucket container to yield third air;

drawing the third air into the bucket to yield fourth air;

drawing the fourth out of the bucket and into the lid to yield fifthair;

drawing the fifth air from the lid through the fan and thereafterthrough a filter component to yield sixth air; and

drawing the sixth air away from the food recycler through an exhaustvent.

Statement 9. The method of recycling food in a food recycler ofstatement 8, wherein the exhaust vent is one or more of (1) configuredwithin the lid to exhaust the sixth air out a top of the lid; (2)configured within the lid to exhaust the sixth air out a back surface ofthe lid; and (3) configured within a top portion of a rear surface ofthe food recycler to exhaust the sixth air out the rear surface of thefood recycler.

Statement 10. The method of recycling food in a food recycler of anyprevious statement, wherein the air intake vent is configured in a baseportion of the food recycler.

Statement 11. The method of recycling food in a food recycler of anyprevious statement, wherein the second air includes heat drawn from themotor.

Statement 12. The method of recycling food in a food recycler of anyprevious statement, wherein the third air includes heat drawn from thegearbox.

Statement 13. The method of recycling food in a food recycler of anyprevious statement, wherein the third air includes heat drawn from thebucket.

Statement 14. The method of recycling food in a food recycler of anyprevious statement, wherein the fifth air includes heat drawn fromheated waste food in the bucket.

Statement 15. The method of recycling food in a food recycler of anyprevious statement, wherein the fifth air includes moisture drawn fromheated waste food in the bucket.

Statement 16. The method of recycling food in a food recycler of anyprevious statement, wherein the third air further includes heat drawnfrom the gearbox.

Statement 17. The method of recycling food in a food recycler of anyprevious statement, wherein when the exhaust vent is configured withinthe top portion of the rear surface of the food recycler to exhaust thesixth air out the rear surface of the food recycler, the rear surface ofthe food recycler is angled inward.

Statement 18. A food recycler comprising:

a base component comprising and a base rim, at least one air intakeopening, a gearbox, and a motor component having a motor and a topsurface, the motor being in mechanical communication with the gearbox;

an airflow component configured to be positioned on the top surface ofthe motor component;

a fan component comprising a fan and positioned on an intake port of theairflow component;

a filter component having an air filter configured therein, the filtercomponent configured on an output port of the airflow component;

a bucket receptacle configured on the gearbox of the base component andconfigured to receive a bucket, wherein the fan component and the filtercomponent are configured adjacent to an upper portion of the bucketreceptacle;

a casing having a lower rim complimentary to the base rim and configuredsuch that the casing sits on the base rim, the casing having a firstinterior volume complimentary to the bucket receptacle, a secondinterior volume complimentary to the fan module, and a third interiorvolume complimentary to the air filter component;

a lid configured with a hinge to the casing such that access to thebucket receptacle is provided by opening the lid; and

an exhaust vent, wherein the food recycler is configured such that anairflow path through the food recycler comprises a first path in throughthe air intake opening and across the motor followed by the gearbox, asecond path from the gearbox through a first channel between the bucketand the bucket receptacle, a third path from the first channel and intothe bucket, a fourth path from the bucket through a second channel inthe lid, a fifth path from the second channel in the lid through the fancomponent to a filter component, and a sixth path from the fan componentthrough the filter component and out the exhaust vent.

Statement 19. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein theexhaust vent is one of (1) in a top surface of the lid, (2) in a rearsurface of the lid, and (3) in a rear surface of the food recycler, and(4) at a top portion of the rear surface of the food recycler.

Statement 20. The food recycler of any previous statement, wherein therear surface of the food recycler is tilted inwards to make room of airto flow out the exhaust vent when the food recycler is positioned nextto a wall.

Modular Food Recycler

Statement 1. A modular food recycler comprising:

a base module comprising and a base rim, at least one air intakeopening, a heater, a gearbox, and a motor component having a motor and atop surface, the motor being in mechanical communication with thegearbox;

an airflow module configured to be positioned on the top surface of themotor component;

a fan module configured to be removably positioned on an intake port ofthe airflow module;

a filter module having an air filter configured therein, the filtermodule configured to be removably positioned on an output port of theairflow module;

a bucket receptacle configured on the gearbox of the base module andconfigured to receive a bucket;

a casing having a lower rim complimentary to the base rim and configuredsuch that the casing sits on the base rim, the casing having a firstinterior volume complimentary to the bucket receptacle, a secondinterior volume complimentary to the fan module, and a third interiorvolume complimentary to the air filter module; and

a lid configured with a hinge to the casing such that access to thebucket receptacle is provided by opening the lid.

Statement 2. The modular food recycler of statement 1, wherein the motoris configured in the base module to be at least in part to a side of alower portion of the bucket receptacle.

Statement 3. The modular food recycler of any previous statement,wherein the filter module receives air and passes the air through thefilter.

Statement 4. The modular food recycler of any previous statement,wherein the lid is further configured to enable air to flow from a topportion of the bucket receptacle through the lid and down to the fanmodule.

Statement 5. The modular food recycler of any previous statement,wherein upon a user removing the casing from being positioned on thebase rim, a user can replace one or more of the base module, the airflowmodule, the fan module, the filter module and the bucket receptaclewithout needing a tool.

Statement 6. The modular food recycler of any previous statement,further comprising:

a controller, wherein in an assembled configuration, the controller isin electrical communication with one or more of the motor, a heatingcomponent and the fan.

Statement 7. The modular food recycler of any previous statement,further comprising a bucket configured within the bucket receptacle.

Statement 8. The modular food recycler of any previous statement,wherein upon an operation of the fan, air is drawn into the casing viathe at least one air intake opening in the base module, up a side wallof the bucket receptacle, into the lid, down through the fan module,through the airflow module, and up through the filter module.

Statement 9. The modular food recycler of any previous statement,wherein the air flows from the filter module into the lid and whereinthe lid further includes exhaust openings in one of a top of the lid.

Statement 10. The modular food recycler of any previous statement,wherein the air flows from the filter module to an exhaust opening on arear surface of the modular food recycler, the exhaust opening beingbelow the hinge.

Statement 11. The modular food recycler of any previous statement,wherein a ratio of a first volume of the bucket relative to a secondvolume comprising an overall volume of the food recycler is between0.0717 and 0.2857.

Statement 12. A modular food recycler comprising:

a controller;

a motor in communication with the controller;

a grinding mechanism in mechanical communication with the motor;

a bucket contained within the food recycler that is configured tocontain the grinding mechanism and configured to receive waste food;

a modular fan component configured to move air through an internalstructure of the module food recycler, the modular fan component beingremovable by a user through a fan top opening in a top surface of themodular food recycler upon which a lid sits; and

a modular filter component, the modular filter component being removableby the user through a filter top opening in the top surface of themodular food recycler upon which the lid sits, wherein the food recycleris configured to have an overall appliance volume of 35 liters or lessand wherein the controller, the motor, the modular fan component, andthe modular filter component are configured within the food recycler toenable the bucket to have a capacity to receive waste food of between2.51 liters to 10 liters, inclusive.

Statement 13. The modular food recycler of statement 12, wherein thefood recycler has a height of 395 millimeters or less.

Statement 14. The modular food recycler of any previous statement,wherein the food recycler has a height of approximately 360 millimeters,a width of approximately 270 millimeters and a depth of approximately310 millimeters.

Statement 15. The modular food recycler of any previous statement,wherein the motor is configured to not be below the bucket within themodular food recycler.

Statement 16. The modular food recycler of any previous statement,further comprising: a gear box configured below the bucket, and whereinat least a portion of the motor is adjacent to a side of the bucket inthe modular food recycler.

Statement 17. The modular food recycler of any previous statement,further comprising: a gear box configured below the bucket, and whereinthe motor is positioned to a side and below the bucket in the modularfood recycler.

Statement 18. The modular food recycler any previous statement, whereina ratio of a first volume of the bucket relative to a second volumecomprising an overall volume of the modular food recycler is between0.0717 and 0.2857.

Statement 19. A modular food recycler comprising:

a food recycler case that contains a controller;

a motor in communication with the controller and configured within thefood recycler case;

a bucket contained within the food recycler case that is configured toreceive waste food; and

a modular drying component configured to remove water from the wastefood, wherein the food recycler case comprises a fan component openingthat enable a user to replace a fan component and a filter componentopening that enables the user to replace a filter component, wherein thefood recycler case has an overall volume and wherein a ratio of a firstvolume of the bucket relative to the overall volume of the food recyclercase is between 0.07 and 0.29.

Statement 20. The modular food recycler of statement 19, wherein theoverall volume comprises 30-35 liters.

Statement 21. The modular food recycler of any previous statement,wherein the ratio comprises between 0.8 and 0.33.

Statement 22. The modular food recycler of any previous statement,wherein the first volume of the bucket comprises 2.51 liters to 10liters.

Statement 23. The modular food recycler any previous statement, whereina height of the food recycler case is approximately 370 millimeters orless.

Statement 24. The modular food recycler any previous statement, whereinthe food recycler is configured to be used on a countertop.

Statement 25. The modular food recycler of any previous statement,further comprising:

a grinding mechanism configured within the bucket and mechanicallyconnected to the motor.

Statement 26. The modular food recycler of any previous statement,wherein the overall volume comprises a height of approximately 360millimeters, a width of approximately 270 mm and a depth ofapproximately 310 mm.

Statement 27. The modular food recycler any previous statement, whereinthis food recycler case comprises an opening on a top surface of thefood recycler and wherein the opening receives a removable lid.

Statement 28. The modular food recycler of any previous statement,further comprising a heating component for heating the waste food andthe drying component for drying the waste food.

Food Cycler Filter System

Statement 1. A filter component comprising:

a filter wall made from a nonporous material;

a filter configured within the filter wall;

a top surface of the filter, the top surface comprising a permeablefilter material to allow air flow through the top surface whilecontaining filter material of the filter; and

a bottom surface of the filter, the bottom surface comprising thepermeable filter material to allow air flow through the bottom surfacewhile containing the filter material of the filter.

Statement 2. The filter component of statement 1, wherein the bottomsurface of the filter further comprises an attachment component to seatthe filter on a filter base component.

Statement 3. The filter component of any previous statement, wherein thefilter comprises charcoal pieces.

Statement 4. The filter component of any previous statement, wherein thenonporous material comprises one of pasteboard or paper.

Statement 5. The filter component of any previous statement, furthercomprising: a handle configured at a top portion of the filter.

We claim:
 1. A food recycler, comprising: a housing having a housingvolume; a motor in electrical communication with a controller; agrinding mechanism in mechanical communication with the motor; a buckethaving a bucket volume, the bucket being removable and configured withthe grinding mechanism contained therein such that waste food placed inthe bucket remains in the bucket during a food recycling process,wherein a ratio of the bucket volume to the housing volume is between0.0717 and 0.2857, inclusive, and wherein the motor is configured withinthe housing adjacent, at least in part, to the bucket; and a dryingcomponent configured to remove water from the waste food placed withinthe bucket.
 2. The food recycler of claim 1, further comprising: acontroller comprising a set of indicators and at least one userinterface component usable to at least initiate the food recyclingprocess.
 3. The food recycler of claim 1, further comprising: a gearboxconfigured below the bucket and in mechanical communication with themotor and the grinding mechanism.
 4. The food recycler of claim 1,wherein the bucket volume comprises between 2.51 and 10 liters,inclusive.
 5. The food recycler of claim 1, wherein the food recyclerconsumes 0.1 kilowatt hours of energy per 100 grams of the waste fooditems.
 6. The food recycler of claim 1, wherein the housing volumecomprises between 8.79 liters and 35 liters.
 7. The food recycler ofclaim 1, wherein the motor is further configured in a lower portion ofthe housing.
 8. A food recycler comprising: a case having a case volumebetween 8.79 liters and 35 liters; a control system; a user interface inelectrical communication with the control system, wherein the userinterface being usable to cause the control system to initiate a foodrecycling process; a bucket being removable from the food recycler andconfigured with a bucket volume, wherein a ratio of the bucket volume tothe case volume is between 0.0717 and 0.2857 and wherein food wasteplaced in the bucket remains in the bucket throughout the food recyclingprocess; a motor in communication with the control system, the motorbeing configured adjacent at least in part to the bucket; a gearboxconfigured below the bucket and in mechanical communication with themotor; a filter system; and a drying component configured to removewater from the waste food.
 9. The food recycler of claim 8, wherein thebucket volume is between 2.51 liters and 10 liters, inclusive.
 10. Thefood recycler of claim 8, wherein: the food recycler further comprises asensor component in electrical communication with the control system,wherein the sensor component generates sensor data based oncharacteristics of the waste food; and the control system determinesoperation of the drying component based on the sensor data.
 11. The foodrecycler of claim 8, further comprising an RF component in electricalcommunication with the control system, wherein the RF componenttransmits microwaves into the bucket to heat the waste food items. 12.The food recycler of claim 8, wherein the case is configured with: aheight between 324 millimeters and 396 millimeters; a length between 165millimeters and 329 millimeters; and a width between 165 millimeters and329 millimeters.
 13. The food recycler of claim 8, wherein the foodrecycling cycle consumes 0.1 kilowatt hours of energy per 100 grams ofthe waste food items.
 14. The food recycler of claim 8, wherein thefilter system is positioned near a top portion of the case andconfigured to accommodate one or more filters and wherein one or moreair filters are removable from the filter system.
 15. The food recyclerof claim 8, wherein the drying component comprises a fan in electricalcommunication with the control system to draw air from the bucket andthrough the filter system.
 16. The food recycler of claim 8, furthercomprising a grinding mechanism configured within the bucket andmechanically connected to the motor.
 17. The food recycler of claim 8,further comprising an antenna in electrical communication with thecontrol system, the antenna configured to allow wireless communicationbetween the control system and other devices over a communicationsnetwork.
 18. A food recycler comprising: a case having a case volumebetween 8.79 liters and 35 liters; a control system; a bucket beingconfigured with a bucket volume, wherein a ratio of the bucket volume tothe case volume of the case is between 0.0717 and 0.2857 and wherein thebucket is configured to retain food waste placed in the bucketthroughout a food recycling process; a lid configured to pivot to enableaccess to the bucket; a motor in communication with the control system,the motor being configured adjacent at least in part to the bucket; agearbox configured below the bucket and in mechanical communication withthe motor; and a drying component configured to remove water from thewaste food.
 19. The food recycler of claim 18, wherein the dryingcomponent causes air to flow at least through a cavity configured in thelid of the bucket.
 20. The food recycler of claim 18, furthercomprising: a filter, wherein the drying component causes air to flowthrough the filter for filtering the air.
 21. A food recyclercomprising: a case having a case volume; a control system; a bucketbeing removable from the food recycler and configured with a bucketvolume, wherein a ratio of the bucket volume to the case volume isbetween 0.0717 and 0.2857 and wherein the bucket is configured to retainwaste food during a food recycling process; a lid configured to bemovable to enable access to the bucket; a motor in communication withthe control system; and a gearbox configured in mechanical communicationwith the motor.
 22. The food recycler of claim 21, wherein the casevolume is between 8.79 liters and 35 liters, inclusive.
 23. The foodrecycler of claim 21, wherein the gearbox is configured below thebucket.
 24. The food recycler of claim 21, further comprising: a dryingcomponent configured to remove water from waste food items.
 25. The foodrecycler of claim 21, further comprising: a user interface in electricalcommunication with the control system, wherein the user interface beingusable to cause the control system to initiate the food recyclingprocess.
 26. The food recycler of claim 25, wherein the user interfacecomprises a button and a single push of the button causes the controlsystem to initiate the food recycling process.
 27. The food recycler ofclaim 26, wherein the user interface further comprises lights thatidentify a status of the food recycling process.
 28. The food recyclerof claim 21, further comprising: a filter having replaceable filtercomponents.
 29. The food recycler of claim 21, wherein the filtercomprises charcoal components.